Microwave cooking appliance with increased visibility into the cavity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11849526-B2
Application number	US-202016836286-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2020
Priority date	Mar 31, 2020
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

A microwave cooking appliance for increasing visibility into the cooking cavity. The microwave cooking appliance may include a door. The door may include a conductive mesh layer. The door may include a frame supporting the conductive mesh layer. The door may include a conductive and/or sealing engagement between the conductive mesh layer and the frame.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A microwave cooking appliance comprising:
a housing having a door to form a cooking cavity, wherein the door includes an interior face arranged to face towards the cooking cavity and an exterior face arranged to face away from the cooking cavity; and
the door comprising
a conductive mesh layer and one or more glass layers, wherein the conductive mesh layer includes an outer edge;
a frame having an outer periphery and a choke groove extending along the outer periphery, wherein the frame supports the conductive mesh layer and the one or more glass layers, and wherein the conductive mesh layer is electrically grounded to the frame;
one or more conductive engagements between the frame and the conductive mesh layer, wherein the one or more conductive engagements includes at least one of a conductive glass sealant electrically grounding the frame to the conductive mesh layer, and wherein the conductive glass sealant surrounds the outer edge of the conductive mesh layer.

2. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein the one or more conductive engagements includes at least one of a conductive gasket, a conductive tape, and/or a mechanical fastener electrically grounding the frame to the conductive mesh layer.

3. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 2 includes the mechanical fastener, wherein the mechanical fastener is a metal clip.

4. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 3 wherein the metal clip is a spring clip.

5. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 3 includes the conductive gasket.

6. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 3 includes the conductive tape, wherein the conductive tape surrounds n the outer edge of the conductive mesh layer and the one or more glass layers.

7. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 3 includes the conductive tape.

8. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein the frame is molded to the conductive mesh layer and the one or more glass layers.

9. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the choke groove is made of the conductive mesh layer and the one or more glass layers.

10. A microwave cooking appliance comprising:
a housing having a door to form a cooking cavity, wherein the door includes an interior face arranged to face towards the cooking cavity and an exterior face arranged to face away from the cooking cavity; and
the door comprising
a conductive mesh layer and one or more glass layers;
a frame having an inner periphery defining a through opening, an outer periphery, and a choke groove extending along the outer periphery, wherein the frame supports the conductive mesh layer and the one or more glass layers across the through opening, and wherein the conductive mesh layer is electrically grounded to the frame;
one or more conductive engagements between the frame and the conductive mesh layer, wherein the one or more conductive engagements includes a conductive glass sealant electrically grounding the frame to the conductive mesh layer; and
wherein the conductive glass sealant engages an outer surface, connecting an interior surface and an exterior surface, of the conductive mesh layer.

11. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 10 wherein the one or more glass layers include an inner glass layer and an outer glass layer, wherein the conductive mesh layer is layered between the inner glass layer and the outer glass layer.

12. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 10 wherein a conductive tape engages an outer edge of the conductive mesh layer and one or more glass layers, wherein the conductive tape is electrically grounded between the conductive mesh layer and the frame.

13. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 10 wherein the one or more glass layers includes a single glass layer, wherein the conductive mesh layer is layered on at least one of an interior facing side and an exterior facing side of the single glass layer.

14. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 10 wherein the conductive mesh layer allows at least 80% optical transmittance into the cooking cavity.

15. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 14 wherein the conductive mesh layer includes an EMI shielding effectiveness of about 30 dB to about 70 dB while maintaining optical transmittance of about 88% to about 99%.

16. The microwave cooking appliance of claim 10 wherein the one or more conductive engagements includes at least one of a conductive gasket, a conductive tape, and/or a mechanical fastener electrically grounding the frame to the conductive mesh layer.

17. A door for a microwave cooking appliance comprising:
a multi-layered shielding panel having a conductive mesh layer and one or more glass layers; and
a frame having an outer periphery and a choke groove extending along the outer periphery, wherein the frame supports the multi-layered shielding panel, and wherein the conductive mesh layer is electrically grounded to the frame, and wherein at least a portion of the choke groove is made of the conductive mesh layer and the one or more glass layers.

18. The door of claim 17 wherein the conductive mesh layer includes an EMI shielding effectiveness of about 30 dB to about 70 dB while maintaining optical transmittance of about 88% to about 99%.

19. The door of claim 17 wherein the one or more glass layers include an inner glass layer and an outer glass layer, wherein the conductive mesh layer is layered between the inner glass layer and the outer glass layer.

20. The door of claim 17 wherein the one or more glass layers includes a single glass layer, wherein the conductive mesh layer is layered on at least one of an interior facing side and an exterior facing side of the single glass layer.

21. The door of claim 17 further includes one or more conductive engagements between the frame and the conductive mesh layer.

22. A microwave cooking appliance comprising:
a housing having a door to form a cooking cavity, wherein the door includes an interior face arranged to face towards the cooking cavity and an exterior face arranged to face away from the cooking cavity; and
the door comprising
a conductive mesh layer and one or more glass layers;
a frame having an outer periphery and a choke groove extending along the outer periphery, wherein the frame supports the conductive mesh layer and the one or more glass layers, and wherein the conductive mesh layer is electrically grounded to the frame;
wherein the frame is molded to the conductive mesh layer and the one or more glass layers.

Assignees

• Midea Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Trice Daniel J
• Langness Brian
• Woodling Pierce

Classifications

• H05B6/6414 Primary

  Aspects relating to the door of the microwave heating apparatus · CPC title

• H05B6/763

  Microwave radiation seals for doors · CPC title

• H05B6/766

  Microwave radiation screens for windows · CPC title