Radio frequency processing apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11489507-B2
Application number	US-202016936050-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2020
Priority date	Aug 9, 2016
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) generator that is to generate a RF signal, first and second electrodes, and an impedance match module in series between the RF generator and the first electrode. The RF generator detects reflected power from the RF signal applied to a load electrically coupled between the first and second electrodes to change a temperature of the load, the RF signal to be applied to the load until the reflected power reaches a particular value.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising:
positioning a load to electrically couple with a first electrode plate for a first time period, wherein a first impedance match module is electrically coupled between the first electrode plate and a first radio frequency (RF) generator, and wherein the first impedance match module is associated with a first range of temperatures between a start temperature and an end temperature associated with the load;
applying a first RF signal to the load for a portion of the first time period during which the load is at a temperature within the first range of temperatures, the first RF signal comprising a RF signal generated by the first radio frequency (RF) generator and impedance matched by the first impedance match module;
positioning the load to electrically couple with a second electrode plate for a second time period, wherein a second impedance match module is electrically coupled between the second electrode plate and a second radio frequency (RF) generator, and wherein the second impedance match module is associated with a second range of temperatures between the start and end temperatures different from the first range of temperatures; and
applying a second RF signal to the load for a portion of the second time period during which the load is at a temperature within the second range of temperatures, the second RF signal comprising another RF signal generated by the second radio frequency (RF) generator and impedance matched by the second impedance match module.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating, by a first direct current (DC) power source, a first DC signal and applying the first DC signal to drive the first radio frequency (RF) generator; and
generating, by a second DC power source, a second DC signal and applying the second DC signal to device the second radio frequency (RF) generator.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first RF signal comprises a signal having a DC to RF power efficiency of 75 to 80%, and wherein a power of the first RF signal is approximately up to 10 kiloWatt (kW).

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the first radio frequency (RF) generator, an indication of a first reflected power level associated with processing of the load using the first radio frequency (RF) generator, impedance match module, and electrode plate;
determining whether the indication of the first reflected power level exceeds a threshold; and
when the determination is affirmative, causing the load to be positioned to electrically couple with the second electrode plate.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein when the determination is negative, changing a first match impedance associated with the first impedance match module, wherein the first match impedance is changed for the next first reflected power level to be smaller than the first reflected power level.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein changing the first match impedance associated with the first impedance match module comprises adjusting, using a first stepper motor, a capacitance of one or more variable capacitors included in the first impedance match module.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the start temperature is lower than the end temperature.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first impedance match module includes fixed or variable capacitors and capacitance values associated with the fixed or variable capacitors are selected for a first match impedance associated with the first impedance match module to match a first load impedance associated with the load during the first time period.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second impedance match module includes second fixed or variable capacitors and capacitance values associated with the second fixed or variable capacitors are selected for a second match impedance associated with the second impedance match module to match a second load impedance associated with the load during the second time period, wherein the first and second load impedances are different from each other.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the end temperature is between −4 to 2° degrees Celsius (C), a temperature below 0° C., or a temperature below at which drip loss occurs for the load, and wherein a total time period for the load to heat from the start temperature to the end temperature comprises less than an hour.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the load comprises protein, carbohydrates, foods, biologic material, fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, or non-food materials.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the load to electrically couple with the second electrode plate comprises continuously moving the load from the first electrode plate to the second electrode plate.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the load to electrically couple with the second electrode plate comprises moving the load from the first electrode plate to the second electrode plate in a step motion.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring a reflected power level associated with the load during the first time period; and
determining a temperature of the load based on the reflected power level.

Assignees

• John Bean Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Brounley Richard R
• Brounley Richard W
• Timperio Richard

Classifications

• H05B6/782

  wherein the material moved is food · CPC title

• H05B6/688

  for thawing · CPC title

• H05B6/645

  using temperature sensors · CPC title

• H01F2038/143

  for signals · CPC title

• H05B6/62

  Apparatus for specific applications · CPC title