Patents by Inventor Olle Niklasson

Olle Niklasson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11818826
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and methods of controlling cooling of a microwave heating apparatus are provided. The microwave heating apparatus typically includes a microwave source for generating microwaves, a cooling unit for cooling the microwave source and a control unit. According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to receive operational data from a measuring device indicative of the measured power of microwaves transmitted from the magnetron and receive operational data from the measuring device indicative of the measured anode current of the magnetron. A calculating device calculates an efficiency of the magnetron as a function of the measured power of the transmitted microwaves and the measured anode current, to define a determined efficiency. The control unit controls the cooling unit and cools the magnetron based on the determined efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Patent number: 11765799
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a microwave heating apparatus includes a microwave source adapted to feed microwaves to a cavity via a transmission line, including measuring a power of microwaves transmitted from the microwave source to the cavity, receiving operational data indicative of the power supplied to the microwave source, and adjusting at least one of an impedance of the transmission line or the impedance matching between the microwave source and the transmission line based on the measured power of the transmitted microwaves and the received operational data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Patent number: 11277890
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and a method of operating a microwave heating apparatus are provided. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a load receiving cavity, at least one microwave source, a plurality of feeding ports connected to the microwave source and the cavity for feeding microwaves to the cavity, a measuring unit and a control unit. The measuring unit measures, for at least one frequency or within a frequency range, the power of microwaves reflected back to the microwave source for at least part of the plurality of feeding ports. The control unit selects at least one of the feeding ports based on the measured powers of the reflected microwaves in order to feed microwaves to the cavity via the at least one selected feeding port during operation of the microwave heating apparatus at the at least one frequency or within the frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Olle Niklasson, Hakan Carlsson, Ulf Nordh, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Patent number: 11191134
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and a method for heating/browning a piece of food by means of microwaves are provided. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a cavity arranged to receive, in a substantially horizontal browning region, a piece of food to be browned. The microwave heating apparatus further comprises a microwave source for generating microwaves and a rotatable antenna arranged at the cavity bottom for supplying the generated microwaves. The antenna is configured to produce at least one radiating lobe pointing towards the browning region such that the intersection between the radiating lobe and the browning region forms a hot spot, thereby forming a ring-shaped heating pattern in the browning region under rotation of the antenna. The present invention is advantageous in that a microwave heating apparatus with an improved crisp function is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Publication number: 20210136882
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and methods of controlling cooling of a microwave heating apparatus are provided. The microwave heating apparatus typically includes a microwave source for generating microwaves, a cooling unit for cooling the microwave source and a control unit. According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to receive operational data from a measuring device indicative of the measured power of microwaves transmitted from the magnetron and receive operational data from the measuring device indicative of the measured anode current of the magnetron. A calculating device calculates an efficiency of the magnetron as a function of the measured power of the transmitted microwaves and the measured anode current, to define a determined efficiency. The control unit controls the cooling unit and cools the magnetron based on the determined efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Publication number: 20210045201
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a microwave heating apparatus comprising a microwave source adapted to feed microwaves to a cavity via a transmission line, including measuring a power of microwaves transmitted from the microwave source to the cavity, receiving operational data indicative of the power supplied to the microwave source, and adjusting at least one of an impedance of the transmission line or the impedance matching between the microwave source and the transmission line based on the measured power of the transmitted microwaves and the received operational data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: ULF NORDH, HAKAN CARLSSON, OLLE NIKLASSON, FREDRIK HALLGREN
  • Patent number: 10912161
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and methods of controlling cooling of a microwave heating apparatus are provided. The microwave heating apparatus typically includes a microwave source for generating microwaves, a cooling unit for cooling the microwave source and a control unit. According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the efficiency of the microwave source and then to control the cooling based on the determined efficiency. The methods and the microwave heating apparatuses of the present invention are advantageous with respect to energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Patent number: 10820383
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a microwave heating apparatus includes a microwave source adapted to feed microwaves to a cavity via a transmission line, including measuring a power of microwaves transmitted from the microwave source to the cavity, receiving operational data indicative of the power supplied to the microwave source, and adjusting at least one of an impedance of the transmission line or the impedance matching between the microwave source and the transmission line based on the measured power of the transmitted microwaves and the received operational data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Publication number: 20180359821
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and methods of controlling cooling of a microwave heating apparatus are provided. The microwave heating apparatus typically includes a microwave source for generating microwaves, a cooling unit for cooling the microwave source and a control unit. According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the efficiency of the microwave source and then to control the cooling based on the determined efficiency. The methods and the microwave heating apparatuses of the present invention are advantageous with respect to energy consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: ULF NORDH, HAKAN CARLSSON, OLLE NIKLASSON, FREDRIK HALLGREN
  • Patent number: 10064247
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and methods of controlling cooling of a microwave heating apparatus are provided. The microwave heating apparatus typically includes a microwave source for generating microwaves, a cooling unit for cooling the microwave source and a control unit. According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the efficiency of the microwave source and then to control the cooling based on the determined efficiency. The methods and the microwave heating apparatuses of the present invention are advantageous with respect to energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Publication number: 20180206297
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and a method of operating a microwave heating apparatus are provided. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a load receiving cavity, at least one microwave source, a plurality of feeding ports connected to the microwave source and the cavity for feeding microwaves to the cavity, a measuring unit and a control unit. The measuring unit measures, for at least one frequency or within a frequency range, the power of microwaves reflected back to the microwave source for at least part of the plurality of feeding ports. The control unit selects at least one of the feeding ports based on the measured powers of the reflected microwaves in order to feed microwaves to the cavity via the at least one selected feeding port during operation of the microwave heating apparatus at the at least one frequency or within the frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Olle NIKLASSON, Hakan CARLSSON, Ulf NORDH, Fredrik HALLGREN
  • Publication number: 20180132311
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a microwave heating apparatus comprising a microwave source adapted to feed microwaves to a cavity via a transmission line, including measuring a power of microwaves transmitted from the microwave source to the cavity, receiving operational data indicative of the power supplied to the microwave source, and adjusting at least one of an impedance of the transmission line or the impedance matching between the microwave source and the transmission line based on the measured power of the transmitted microwaves and the received operational data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: ULF NORDH, HAKAN CARLSSON, OLLE NIKLASSON, FREDRIK HALLGREN
  • Patent number: 9930732
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and a method of operating a microwave heating apparatus are provided. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a load receiving cavity, at least one microwave source, a plurality of feeding ports connected to the microwave source and the cavity for feeding microwaves to the cavity, a measuring unit and a control unit. The measuring unit measures, for at least one frequency or within a frequency range, the power of microwaves reflected back to the microwave source for at least part of the plurality of feeding ports. The control unit selects at least one of the feeding ports based on the measured powers of the reflected microwaves in order to feed microwaves to the cavity via the at least one selected feeding port during operation of the microwave heating apparatus at the at least one frequency or within the frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Olle Niklasson, Hakan Carlsson, Ulf Nordh, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Patent number: 9769884
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus for heating a load by means of microwaves is provided. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a cavity arranged to receive a piece of food to be heated, a first microwave supply system configured to supply microwaves at the cavity bottom for energizing a browning function in the cavity, a second microwave supply system configured to supply microwaves into the cavity for exciting cavity modes and a control unit configured to control the first and second microwave supply systems based on a food category and/or a cooking program. The first supply system comprises at least one microwave source and at least one antenna arranged in a lower part of the cavity and the second microwave supply system comprises at least one microwave source and at least one feeding port arranged in an upper part of the cavity. The present invention is advantageous in that a microwave heating apparatus with an improved crisp function is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Olle Niklasson, Hakan Carlsson, Ulf Nordh, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Publication number: 20170105252
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and a method for heating/browning a piece of food by means of microwaves are provided. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a cavity arranged to receive, in a substantially horizontal browning region, a piece of food to be browned. The microwave heating apparatus further comprises a microwave source for generating microwaves and a rotatable antenna arranged at the cavity bottom for supplying the generated microwaves. The antenna is configured to produce at least one radiating lobe pointing towards the browning region such that the intersection between the radiating lobe and the browning region forms a hot spot, thereby forming a ring-shaped heating pattern in the browning region under rotation of the antenna. The present invention is advantageous in that a microwave heating apparatus with an improved crisp function is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Patent number: 9538585
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and a method for heating/browning a piece of food by means of microwaves are provided. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a cavity arranged to receive, in a substantially horizontal browning region, a piece of food to be browned. The microwave heating apparatus further comprises a microwave source for generating microwaves and a rotatable antenna arranged at the cavity bottom for supplying the generated microwaves. The antenna is configured to produce at least one radiating lobe pointing towards the browning region such that the intersection between the radiating lobe and the browning region forms a hot spot, thereby forming a ring-shaped heating pattern in the browning region under rotation of the antenna. The present invention is advantageous in that a microwave heating apparatus with an improved crisp function is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Publication number: 20160242241
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus for heating a load by means of microwaves is provided. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a cavity arranged to receive a piece of food to be heated, a first microwave supply system configured to supply microwaves at the cavity bottom for energizing a browning function in the cavity, a second microwave supply system configured to supply microwaves into the cavity for exciting cavity modes and a control unit configured to control the first and second microwave supply systems based on a food category and/or a cooking program. The first supply system comprises at least one microwave source and at least one antenna arranged in a lower part of the cavity and the second microwave supply system comprises at least one microwave source and at least one feeding port arranged in an upper part of the cavity. The present invention is advantageous in that a microwave heating apparatus with an improved crisp function is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: OLLE NIKLASSON, HAKAN CARLSSON, ULF NORDH, FREDRIK HALLGREN
  • Patent number: 9332597
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus for heating a load by means of microwaves is provided. The microwave heating apparatus has a cavity arranged to receive a piece of food to be heated, a first microwave supply system configured to supply microwaves at the cavity bottom for energizing a browning function in the cavity, a second microwave supply system configured to supply microwaves into the cavity for exciting cavity modes and a control unit configured to control the first and second microwave supply systems based on a food category and/or a cooking program. The first supply system has at least one microwave source and at least one antenna arranged in a lower part of the cavity and the second microwave supply system has at least one microwave source and at least one feeding port arranged in an upper part of the cavity. The present invention is advantageous in that a microwave heating apparatus with an improved crisp function is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Olle Niklasson, Hakan Carlsson, Ulf Nordh, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Publication number: 20150382408
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and methods of controlling cooling of a microwave heating apparatus are provided. The microwave heating apparatus typically includes a microwave source for generating microwaves, a cooling unit for cooling the microwave source and a control unit. According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the efficiency of the microwave source and then to control the cooling based on the determined efficiency. The methods and the microwave heating apparatuses of the present invention are advantageous with respect to energy consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: ULF NORDH, HAKAN CARLSSON, OLLE NIKLASSON, FREDRIK HALLGREN
  • Patent number: 9161394
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and a method of heating a load using microwaves is disclosed. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a cavity arranged to receive a load, a microwave generator, a transmission line arranged to transmit the generated microwaves to the cavity and a sensing device arranged to measure electromagnetic field strengths at different positions along the transmission line. The positions are selected such that the measured field strengths provide information about the phase of a reflection coefficient being representative of the ratio between the amount of microwaves reflected back towards the microwave generator and the amount of microwaves transmitted in the transmission line from the microwave generator. The microwave heating apparatus further comprises a control unit configured to control feeding of the microwaves to the cavity based on the measured field strengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson