With Detector Patents (Class 219/716)
  • Patent number: 11674746
    Abstract: A combination microwave and refrigerator system is provided. The microwave oven is connected to a source of power and has a control circuit for controlling the operation of the microwave oven. A first power supply outlet is provided on the microwave oven. A refrigerator is connected to the source of power by connection to the first power supply outlet. The control circuit is configured to disable the cooling operation of the refrigerator, when the microwave oven demands cooking power, and enable the cooling operation of the refrigerator when the microwave oven is not drawing cooking power. A safety sensor is provided in the microwave oven, and is configured to cause cooking power to the microwave oven to be turned off upon the safety sensor sensing a level of smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: INTIRION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory Allan Thomas Hall, Philip Emma, Jim Estill, Bryan Stuart Cunningham, Dennis O′Brien
  • Patent number: 11031860
    Abstract: A converter with soft start includes a transformer; first and second switches connected to the transformer to supply power to the transformer; a controller connected to the first and second transistors and arranged to, during startup of the converter, switch the first switch with a variable duty cycle and switch the second switch with either a fixed duty cycle or a variable duty cycle with pulses larger than pulses of the variable duty cycle of the first switch; and a bleed device arranged to set initial conditions of the converter before startup of the converter by discharging a capacitor in the converter before startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bing Gong, Jahangir Afsharian
  • Patent number: 10993293
    Abstract: An interrupting circuit is configured to monitor for and detect a fault in a device for generating a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) from a radio frequency (RF) generator configured to convert low voltage direct current (DC) into the e-field for application to an article in the e-field. If a fault is detected, the interrupting circuit interrupts low voltage DC between an energy reserve and the RF generator within a predetermined time less than the time to dissipate energy stored in the energy reserve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Henrik Mattfolk, Davide Guatta
  • Patent number: 10685822
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, in a CEM assembly and the like, it is possible to reduce a size of a voltage supply circuit configured to stabilize a voltage to be applied to a channel electron multiplier. The CEM assembly includes a CEM and a voltage supply circuit. The CEM includes an input electrode, a multiplication channel, and an output electrode. The voltage supply circuit includes a power source unit and a constant voltage generation unit. A potential of an input electrode A is set by an electromotive force generated by the power source unit. The constant voltage generation unit includes a constant voltage supply unit configured to cause voltage drop. A target potential set at an output-side reference node is maintained by the voltage drop of the constant voltage supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Takeshi Endo, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10588182
    Abstract: A semiconductor microwave oven and a semiconductor microwave source thereof. The semiconductor microwave oven includes: a body, a microwave input device, a semiconductor microwave source and a control device. The semiconductor microwave source includes a signal source, a power divider and N drive amplifiers. The signal source is configured to generate a first microwave signal. Power of the first microwave signal is allocated by the power divider to generate N second microwave signals. Each drive amplifier is configured to conduct drive amplification on the second microwave signal, and respectively to input same to the microwave input device to transmit into the chamber. The control device is configured to control the signal source to generate the first microwave signal. The microwave oven shares one signal source to guarantee operating at the same frequency, thereby realizing the highly efficient power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignees: GUANGDONG MIDEA KITCHEN APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feina Zhang, Xiangwei Tang, Xiantao Du, Minyong Liu
  • Patent number: 10438508
    Abstract: A method for distributing information used by an information distribution system includes receiving, from a cooking appliance, first identification information for identifying a first food, first end time information indicating a first end time, at which a first cooking operation performed by the cooking appliance on the first food ends, and first log information indicating an operation output and an operation time of the first cooking operation, obtaining, on the basis of the received first identification information and first log information, first questionnaire information indicating a questionnaire relating to the first food from a memory, and distributing the first questionnaire information or second questionnaire information, which is generated using the first questionnaire information, to the display device if first additional cooking information indicating that the cooking appliance has performed an additional cooking operation on the first food has not been received from the cooking appliance in a fi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Shinomoto, Hiroyuki Kubotani, Yasuhiro Yuki
  • Patent number: 10410721
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a pulsed integrator and memory techniques are described. A first device may facilitate discharging a memory cell using at least one current pulse until a voltage associated with the memory cell reaches a reference voltage. The discharge time of the memory cell may be determined based at least in part on a duration of at least one current pulse. In some examples, a state of the memory cell may be determined based at least in part on a discharge time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst
  • Patent number: 10015847
    Abstract: A multi-cavity microwave cooking appliance provides at least two (2) microwave cooking ovens a vertically elongated third beverage heating unit in at least one (1) embodiment. In general, each of the ovens and the heating unit are operated and controlled independently from each other. However, the ovens and heating unit may be controlled together if a particular switch is pressed. Each oven and the heating unit have separate access doors, magnetrons, and control switches. A control unit can be used to enter cooking information to the ovens and heating unit. The multi-cavity microwave cooking appliance further supports a tray and turntables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Andrew C. Lavenziano
  • Patent number: 9953804
    Abstract: The system described herein relates to a high-voltage supply unit for providing an output voltage for a particle beam apparatus, wherein the particle beam apparatus is embodied as, for example, an electron beam apparatus and/or an ion beam apparatus. The system described herein is based on the fact that it was recognized that a bipolar voltage supply unit can be formed by means of a unipolar first current source and a unipolar second current source, said bipolar voltage supply unit enabling a load current in two directions. The high-voltage supply unit according to the system described herein can be operated in the 4-quadrant operation. In the 4-quadrant operation, a first voltage source for supplying the first current source and a second voltage source for supplying the second current source are embodied as different voltage sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Edgar Fichter, Joerg Fober, Dirk Preikszas, Christian Hendrich, Michael Schnell, Momme Mommsen
  • Patent number: 9831791
    Abstract: A power supply comprises at least one input to couple the power supply to a power source. The power supply also comprises at least one switched-mode power circuit configured to extract electrical energy from the power source, the electrical energy to be transferred to a load. The power supply additionally comprises at least one control module coupled between the at least one input and the at least one switched-mode power circuit. The control module is configured to control operation of the switched-mode power circuit to regulate a voltage-to-current ratio at the at least one input of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Kjell Lidström
  • Patent number: 9674903
    Abstract: Provided herein are a cooking apparatus. The cooking apparatus includes a cavity, and a microwave generator to generate and output microwaves of a plurality of frequencies to heat an object within the cavity, wherein the microwave generator includes a controller to calculate heating efficiencies based on microwaves reflected by the inside of the cavity from among the output microwaves and to calculate heating modes consisting of microwaves for heating, during a scanning session and to control the heating modes so as to achieve the equal heating time during a heating session. Thereby, the object within the cavity is uniformly heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyun Wook Moon, Jae Kyung Yang, Sung Hun Sim, Heung Sik Choi, Wan Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9640946
    Abstract: An improved laser safety shutter is provided for the main supply power to the laser diode to be routed through an electronic shutter that prevents the passing of the supply power to the laser diodes to achieve laser shutdown or in the event of a control power failure. The main power is routed through a rectifier to convert the incoming alternating current (AC) feed to direct current (DC) power. A switching array operates in an alternating cycle so as to provide AC power to be transformed and passed along to the laser diode pump on the load side of the transformer. When shut down of the laser is desired or when power to the controller fails, the switches stop operating and the resultant DC power cannot be passed by the transformer effectively cutting the supply power to the laser diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: PRIMA ELECTRO NORTH AMERICA
    Inventors: Francesco Sgandurra, Luca DiStefano
  • Patent number: 9398645
    Abstract: A current detecting and switching apparatus that provides automatic coupling of internal components of an appliance to varying supply voltage sources to prevent components from operating at something other than their intended power rating. The switching apparatus provides automatic coupling to multi-rated internal components of the appliance instead of providing a voltage specific appliance pre-wiring of specific connections of a multi-voltage component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: STANDEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Terry Gray
  • Patent number: 9390879
    Abstract: A power supply for a magnetron has a PFC DC voltage source and an HV (High Voltage) converter. The voltage source is mains driven and supplies DC voltage above mains voltage on line, smoothed by capacitor to the HV converter. The latter supplies switched alternating current to transformer. This supplies higher voltage alternating current to a rectifier, in turn supplying the magnetron with high, magnetron powering, anode voltage on line. The DC voltage source has an PFC inductor, which is switched by a transistor switch under control of an integrated circuit. It is the inductor which enables the voltage source to provide a variable DC voltage. An input rectifier is provided for rectifying mains voltage. The output voltage of the voltage source is monitored and fed back to the integrated circuit by a voltage divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ceravision Limited
    Inventor: Kjell Lidstrom
  • Patent number: 9363853
    Abstract: A system and method for powering a dual magnetron with a dual power supply is disclosed. A first power supply supplies a first voltage to a first magnetron. A second power supply supplies a second voltage to a second magnetron. A balancer circuit controls a drive current for altering a magnetic field of the first magnetron and a magnetic field of the second magnetron to maintain the first voltage and the second voltage at a substantially equal voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Heraeus Noblelight America LLC
    Inventors: Mahmood Gharagozloo, Ta Hai Yeh, Pradyumna Kumar Swain
  • Patent number: 9312784
    Abstract: A variable switching frequency power supply apparatus includes a main transformer, a voltage detection unit, a pulse width modulation control unit and a switch unit. The voltage detection unit is electrically connected to the main transformer. The pulse width modulation control unit is electrically connected to the voltage detection unit. The switch unit is electrically connected to the pulse width modulation control unit and the main transformer. The main transformer transforms an input voltage into an output voltage according to a switching frequency of the switch unit. The voltage detection unit detects the input voltage and then informs the pulse width modulation control unit. The pulse width modulation control unit is configured to control the switching frequency of the switch unit according to a voltage absolute value of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sen-Chi Lin, Fu-Sung Chen, Yu-Hao Tung
  • Patent number: 9287790
    Abstract: An electric power converter includes a capacitor, a bridge circuit that includes a plurality of switching elements, a transformer, a secondary side rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit, a detector that detects a value based on at least one of a capacitor voltage and a current flowing from the capacitor, and a control device that outputs a primary side drive signal to turns on/off each of the plurality of switching elements at a switching frequency, the control device increasing the switching frequency when the detected value increases, the control device reducing the switching frequency when the detected value decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Norisada, Keiji Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 9241397
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microwave plasma processing apparatus including: a processing container configured to define a processing space a microwave generator configured to generate microwaves for generating plasma of a processing gas introduced into the processing space, a distributor configured to distribute the microwaves to a plurality of waveguides using a variable distribution ratio, an antenna installed in the processing container to seal the processing space and configured to radiate the microwaves distributed to each of the plurality of waveguides by the distributor to the processing space, a monitor unit configured to monitor a power of the microwaves distributed to each of the plurality of waveguides by the distributor, and a distribution ratio control unit configured to correct the distribution ratio used for distribution of the microwaves by the distributor based on a difference between a ratio of the power of the microwaves monitored by the monitor unit and a previously designated distribution ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazushi Kaneko, Yunosuke Hashimoto, Yohei Ishida
  • Patent number: 9142952
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control circuit having a multi-function terminal. The control circuit comprises a switching circuit, a sample-and-hold circuit, a detection circuit, and a comparator. The sample-and-hold circuit is coupled to the multi-function terminal for generating a sample voltage by sampling the feedback signal during a first period. The detection circuit is coupled to the multi-function terminal during a second period for generating a detection voltage. The comparator compares the detection voltage and the sample voltage for generating an over-temperature signal, wherein the over-temperature signal is couple to disable the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Chao-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 9131541
    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: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Patent number: 9106088
    Abstract: A non-contact power transmission apparatus includes a high-frequency converting section, which converts input voltage to high-frequency voltage and outputs it, a primary coil, which receives high-frequency voltage from the high-frequency converting section, and a secondary coil, which receives electric power from the primary coil. The non-contact power transmission apparatus further includes a load to which the electric power received by the secondary coil is supplied, a rectifier located between the secondary coil and the load, and an output adjusting section, which supplies, as pulses, output voltage to the high-frequency converting section. The output adjusting section is configured to increase or reduce output to the load by adjusting a duty cycle of the pulse output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Tadashi Kondo, Yukihiro Yamamoto, Sadanori Suzuki, Shimpei Sakoda
  • Patent number: 8927913
    Abstract: Generally and not exclusively, a method for controlling a process condition of at least one item within a microwave chamber may include receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber, applying one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber, remotely monitoring a spatial variation of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber at least one of simultaneously with or following the applying of the one or more microwave energy beams, and estimating the process condition for microwaving the at least one item in the microwave chamber based at least partially on the monitoring of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8901470
    Abstract: In a microwave heating apparatus of the invention, microwaves from oscillation parts 1a, 1b are divided into a plurality of microwaves by power division parts 2a, 2b and inputted to amplification parts 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and desired microwave powers from the amplification parts are supplied from feeding parts 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d to a heating chamber 8. Reflected powers reflected from the heating chamber to the amplification parts via the feeding parts are detected by power detection parts 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d. Each of the feeding parts has a plurality of antennas for supplying the microwaves having different characteristics to the heating chamber, and a control part 7 extracts an oscillating frequency with which the reflected powers detected by the power detection parts are minimum, and causes the oscillation parts to oscillate at the extracted oscillating frequency so as to supply the microwaves having the different characteristics from the plurality of antennas to the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Oomori, Tomotaka Nobue, Kenji Yasui, Makoto Mihara
  • Publication number: 20140305934
    Abstract: A materials processing system comprises a thermal processing chamber and a broadband microwave power source. The power source includes an ovenized small-signal RF circuit, a high power microwave amplifier, and forward and reflected power detectors separated from one another by an isolator. The power detectors are also preferably ovenized. A control system provides control signals to the thermally stabilized VCO and VCA in the small-signal circuit to control output power based on detected forward power compared to demanded forward power. The system may be run in either open-loop or closed-loop modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Clayton R. DeCamillis, Joseph M. Wander, Richard C. Hazelhurst, Michael L. Hampton
  • Patent number: 8796603
    Abstract: An appliance including a cabinet having a first PCB located therein, a door connected to the cabinet, the door being moveable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the cabinet, and a second PCB located in the door. In addition, at least one first connector is connected to the first PCB. At least one second connector is connected to the second PCB and is electronically connectable to the first connector. In particular, the second connector is electrically connected to the first connector when the door is in a substantially closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Woo Lee, Wan Soo Kim, Hyun Jung Kim
  • Publication number: 20140073065
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a microwave annealing apparatus is provided, including a housing shielding electromagnetic waves, a first electromagnetic wave source configured to apply a first electromagnetic wave into the housing, a second electromagnetic wave source configured to apply, into the housing, a second electromagnetic wave having a higher frequency than the first electromagnetic wave, a susceptor configured to hold a semiconductor substrate, made of a material transparent to the first electromagnetic wave and provided in the housing, a temperature measuring device configured to measure the temperature of the semiconductor substrate, and a control unit configured to control the power of each of the first and second electromagnetic wave sources in accordance with the temperature measured by the temperature measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hiroshi OHNO, Tomonori AOYAMA, Kiyotaka MIYANO, Yoshinori HONGUH, Masataka SHIRATSUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140042155
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a high voltage power supply for supplying a high voltage power to a magnetron; and a detector for detecting a microwave output from the magnetron, wherein based on a result of comparing a signal, which is obtained by adding an output from the detector to an AC component of a current detected from an output of the high voltage power supply, with a setting value of the output of the high voltage power supply, the output of the high voltage power supply is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi YAMAMOTO, Atsushi ITOU
  • Patent number: 8642934
    Abstract: A power control unit for high-frequency dielectric heating is provided. The power control unit controls an inverter circuit for rectifying voltage of an AC power supply, and modulates the on time of a switching transistor during high frequency switching. The power control unit includes an input current detection section for detecting input current from the AC power supply to the inverter circuit and outputting input current waveform information. A conversion section is provided for converting the input current waveform information into a drive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit so that an instantaneous fluctuation of the input current waveform information is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Suenaga, Kenji Yasui, Shinichi Sakai, Nobuo Shirokawa, Hideaki Moriya, Manabu Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20140021197
    Abstract: A microwave energy delivery and measurement system, including a microwave energy source configured to delivery microwave energy to a microwave energy delivery device, a measurement system configured to measure at least one parameter of the microwave energy delivery device and a switching network configured to electrically isolate the microwave energy source and the measurement system. The measurement system is configured to actively measure in real time at least one parameter related to the microwave energy delivery device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Covidien LP
    Inventors: JOSEPH D. BRANNAN, JOSEPH A. PAULUS
  • Patent number: 8624170
    Abstract: An inverter controller controls an inverter. The inverter converts direct current into alternating current of a predetermined frequency. The inverter includes a resonance circuit for fluctuating output of a predetermined object to be controlled. The inverter controller comprises an output fluctuating unit which fluctuates output of the inverter in response to an output value of a temperature detection section which detects a temperature of a switching element of the inverter. The inverter controller further comprises an output increase suppressing unit which suppresses an increase in the output of the inverter for a predetermined time after decrease control in the output of the inverter performed by the output fluctuating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Kinoshita, Haruo Suenaga, Kenji Yasui, Shinichi Sakai, Nobuo Shirokawa, Hideaki Moriya
  • Patent number: 8610038
    Abstract: Generally and not exclusively, a microwave cooking oven to cook food in a microwave chamber includes at least one array of radiation detectors. An exemplary method includes sensing an optical depth of the item along each of multiple beam paths from at least two sides of the item, and mapping isothermal regions in the interior of the item 3-dimensionally based on the sensing. Another exemplary method includes sensing a microwave power representing a value of a heatability property for each of multiple regions of the same item, and applying a different measure of the microwave power to each of the different regions according to the value of the heatability property in each individual region. Yet another exemplary method includes sensing different frequencies of the microwave power in the microwave chamber, and changing the frequency of the microwave power for heating the item, as the item undergoes heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8492687
    Abstract: A power control unit for high-frequency dielectric heating is provided, and includes an input current detection section for detecting input current from the AC power supply to the inverter circuit and outputting input current waveform information. A conversion section converts the input current waveform information into a drive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit so that instantaneous fluctuation of the input current waveform information is suppressed. A mix circuit mixes the input current waveform information and power control information for controlling so that current or voltage at an arbitrary point of the inverter circuit becomes a predetermined value and generates an on voltage signal. The conversion section converts the on voltage signal into the drive signal so that the on time is shortened in the portion where the input current is large and that the on time is prolonged in the portion where the input current is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Suenaga, Kenji Yasui, Shinichi Sakai, Nobuo Shirokawa, Hideaki Moriya, Manabu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8258446
    Abstract: A power control unit for high-frequency dielectric heating is provided. The power control includes an input current detection section for detecting input current from an AC power supply to an inverter circuit and outputting input current waveform information. A conversion section converts the input current waveform information into a drive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit so that instantaneous fluctuation of the input current waveform information is suppressed. An input voltage detection section detects input voltage from the AC power supply to the inverter circuit and outputs input voltage waveform information. A selection section selects the input current waveform information or the input voltage waveform information, whichever is larger. The conversion section also converts the selected input current waveform information or input voltage waveform information into the drive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Suenaga, Kenji Yasui, Shinichi Sakai, Nobuo Shirokawa, Hideaki Moriya, Manabu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8253082
    Abstract: A magnetron driving power source can detect the abnormal condition during no-load running with low cost and space saving. The magnetron driving power source includes a high voltage transformer (12) for supplying a high voltage to a magnetron (11), a switching part (13) for driving the high voltage transformer at a high frequency, a first control part (14) for giving a drive signal to the switching part, a second control part (16) for issuing an output command to the first control part, and a third control part (19) for correcting the output command in accordance with a decrease in the oscillation threshold value of the magnetron, wherein the first control part (14) performs a power down control in accordance with a signal from the third control part. Accordingly, the magnetron driving power source of the invention can treat the signal on the control side of the inverter and detect the abnormal condition during no-load running with low cost and space saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Sakai, Nobuo Shirokawa, Haruo Suenaga, Hideaki Moriya, Manabu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7946220
    Abstract: A method for regulating a cooking process of a cooking product in an oven of a steamer, during which the moisture in the oven coming from the cooking product is at least periodically determined over time by a moisture sensor. During a measuring phase there is no introduction of steam into the steam oven and the moisture sensor is evaluated. For a given cooking process with fixed times for the supply of steam, on the basis of the moisture sensor evaluation during the measuring phase, the end of cooking is determined. Prior to the measuring phase and during a steam phase, steam is introduced into the oven, the steam supply being terminated following the steam phase and prior to the measuring phase during a ventilating phase. During the ventilating phase the steam concentration in the oven is greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH
    Inventors: Lutz Ose, Michael Riffel, Wilfried Schilling, Konrad Schoenemann
  • Patent number: 7863548
    Abstract: A method for preventing overheating of a microwave oven includes receiving information of a cooking condition and a cooking start command for current cooking, the cooking condition including a magnetron output level and a current cooking period, confirming pause duration from when preceding cooking was finished to when the current cooking is started, if it is determined that the magnetron output level is a preset magnetron output level or more, and determining a basic output period and a reference period for changing the magnetron output level corresponding to the confirmed pause duration, followed by operating the microwave oven at the preset magnetron output level after changing the magnetron output level to the preset magnetron output level, if it is determined that a driving period for changing the magnetron output level has passed the determined reference period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Hoe Kim
  • Publication number: 20100176121
    Abstract: A microwave oven includes a microwave generation device and a case. Three antennas are provided in the case. The two antennas are opposite each other along a horizontal direction. In the microwave generation device, a power distributor almost equally distributes a microwave generated by a microwave generator among phase variators. Each of the phase variators adjusts the phase of the fed microwave. This causes a phase difference between microwaves respectively radiated from the opposite two antennas to change. The microwaves are respectively radiated from the antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomotaka Nobue, Makoto Mihara, Kenji Yasui
  • Publication number: 20090321429
    Abstract: Generally and not exclusively, a microwave cooking oven to cook food in a microwave chamber (e.g., a cooking chamber) includes a microwave power source, and a microwave control unit. The control unit includes a microwave detector to detect the microwave power in the cooking chamber, and a control circuit to determine the food optical density or food temperature, based on the microwave power being absorbed by the food. The control circuit determines the microwave power being absorbed based on the difference between the power emitted into the cooking chamber and the power detected within the cooking chamber. In one illustrative embodiment, microwave power is emitted by multiple ports from different directions, and the microwave power absorbed by the food along these different directions is measured. The control circuit then determines the optical density or temperature of the food along each direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K.Y. Jung, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090065502
    Abstract: The object of the invention is not only to simplify the structure of a high frequency dielectric heating power control apparatus and reduce the size of the apparatus but also to eliminate the need for control and design corresponding to the kind of a magnetron and thus enhance the running efficiency of the apparatus. An input current to an inverter circuit is detected by a shunt resistor 71 and is converted to an input current wave form through an input current signal amplifier 72. On the other hand, based on an alternating current power supply voltage wave form from an alternating power supply voltage, there is obtained through a gain variable amplifier 91 a reference wave form following the size of the input current wave form. A wave form error detect circuit 92 compares the input current wave form with the reference wave form to obtain a wave form error signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Haruo Suenaga, Kenji Yasui
  • Publication number: 20090014442
    Abstract: A magnetron driving power source can detect the abnormal condition during no-load running with low cost and space saving. The magnetron driving power source includes a high voltage transformer (12) for supplying a high voltage to a magnetron (11), a switching part (13) for driving the high voltage transformer at a high frequency, a first control part (14) for giving a drive signal to the switching part, a second control part (16) for issuing an output command to the first control part, and a third control part (19) for correcting the output command in accordance with a decrease in the oscillation threshold value of the magnetron, wherein the first control part (14) performs a power down control in accordance with a signal from the third control part. Accordingly, the magnetron driving power source of the invention can treat the signal on the control side of the inverter and detect the abnormal condition during no-load running with low cost and space saving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Sakai, Nobuo Shirokawa, Haruo Suenaga, Hideaki Moriya, Manabu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7432484
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high frequency heating apparatus and provides a tracking method of a frequency modulation in order to prevent an extension of the harmonic current component of an oscillation threshold ebm which varies from moment to moment in accordance with a change in the temperature of a magnetron. A driving signal for driving a first semiconductor switching element (3) and a second semiconductor switching element (4) is transmitted to a driving control IC unit (14), and an input reference signal Ref is used to perform an input current fixed control. In this case, a variation amount of the input current of the input reference signal Ref is understood as an accumulation information POW and a constant is optimally configured in a resistor network in an ebm-tracking bias circuit (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Moriya, Haruo Suenaga, Shinichi Sakai, Nobuo Shirokawa, Manabu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7414228
    Abstract: There is constructed a constitution such that a shunt resistor 30 is interposed in series with a portion capable of measuring an output current of a unidirectional power source portion 1 of a high frequency heating apparatus and a voltage generated at the shunt resistor 30 is outputted by a buffer 31. Further, an operational amplifier 3101 having a high input impedance is used for the buffer 31. Further, a diode bridge 101 and a semiconductor switching element 205 are fixed to a common heat radiating plate 33, the heat radiating plate 33 is formed with a notched portion 33a to thereby ensure insulating distances to the diode bridge 101 and the semiconductor switching element 205, and the shunt resistor 30 is arranged on a straight line the same as that between the diode bridge 101 and the semiconductor switching element 205.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Suenaga, Hideaki Moriya, Hisashi Morikawa, Shinichi Sakai, Makoto Mihara, Nobuo Shirokawa, Toyotsubu Matsukura, Masato Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7405382
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a microwave generator includes a variable voltage provided from a first transformer to a second transformer having a secondary winding split into a filament winding cathode low AC signal and a secondary winding providing a high voltage which is doubled and rectified in a half-wave voltage doubler for providing a pulsed DC signal through a ballast resistor to a magnetron anode responsive to an electromagnetic field. In still further accord with the present invention, a microwave sample cavity includes a waveguide, and a hole for receiving a sample to be microwave-heated, and an inductive tuning post all on a straight line, wherein the hole is adjacent the waveguide and the post is distant from the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: Wayne Openlander
  • Patent number: 7365294
    Abstract: A microwave oven, including a transformer assembly accommodating a transformer and filled with a cooling material to cool the transformer; and a temperature-sensitive switch electrically connected to the transformer to shut off power when a temperature of a surface of the transformer assembly is a predetermined overheating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heui Seag Park
  • Patent number: 7355152
    Abstract: A method of power control apparatus for electric cookers is provided. In the method, a micro controller unit (MCU) with a programmer pulse generator (PPG) and analog/digital (AID) converters is utilized, wherein a command can be inputted externally to the MCU for restarting or stopping the output of the PPG; and the PPG is capable of outputting pulses of programmable pulse width, being programmed by software for power control and, also, the protection of power control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Holtek Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan-Ho Liu, Chun-Hsiung Chen, Chun-Ku Lin
  • Patent number: 7312427
    Abstract: A high-frequency dielectric heating device includes: a microwave output unit including an inverter unit using a semiconductor switching element, heat-radiating fins for radiating the heat generated by an IGBT, and a printed board having a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the semiconductor switching element, The thermistor is soldered to a leg portion of the semiconductor switching element or near to the leg portion thereof on the side of the soldering surface of the printed board. The device also includes: a booster transformer, a high-voltage rectifier unit, and a magnetron; and a heat-cooking chamber fed with microwaves radiated from the magnetron. When the thermistor has assumed a predetermined resistance, a power-down control operation is effected by greatly decreasing the power fed to the semiconductor switching element. Then, permitting the power fed to the semiconductor switching element to vary depending upon the resistance of the thermistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Suenaga, Hideaki Moriya, Shinichi Sakai
  • Patent number: 7282682
    Abstract: A purpose of the present invention is to provide an inverter circuit capable of firmly turning ON IGBTs under limited condition, while a heat loss and noise can be hardly produced in semiconductor switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Suenaga, Hideaki Moriya, Shinichi Sakai, Hisashi Morikawa, Nobuo Shirokawa, Manabu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7271372
    Abstract: A power control apparatus for electric cookers includes an input unit, an output unit, a micro controller unit (MCU), having a programmer pulse generator (PPG) and at least an analog/digital converter built therein, a power circuit, an exciter-coil circuit, an output circuit of insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), and a drive circuit of insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). A command can be inputted externally to the MCU for restarting or stopping the output of the PPG and the PPG is capable of outputting pulses of programmable pulse width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Holtek Semiconductor
    Inventors: Yuan-Ho Liu, Chun-Hsiung Chen, Chun-Ku Lin
  • Patent number: 7230219
    Abstract: An oscillation control signal generated by an inverter power source control circuit (12) includes a reference voltage setting signal for approximating the current waveform of the AC output form the AC power source (1) to a sinusoidal wave by making both sides of the waveform generate current according to the fluctuation of the PWM control signal, and a waveform shaping signal consisting of a peak adjustment signal of a sinusoidal waveform for approximating the waveform peak portion of the current waveform to a sinusoidal wave by subtraction. Accordingly, even if the PWM control signal fluctuates, it is possible to automatically improve the power factor of the power source circuit to a value higher than a predetermined value by approximating the current waveform of the AC output from the AC power source to the sinusoidal wave, thereby improving the efficiency of the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignees: Tabuchi Electric Co., Ltd., Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinobu Miyazaki, Masaki Nakaishi, Shinichi Masuda
  • Patent number: 7109669
    Abstract: A radiation generating system for treating a coating on a substrate. A high voltage circuit provides power to a microwave generator that, in turn, supplies microwave radiation to drive a lamp. A current limiting device is connected between the high voltage circuit and the microwave generator, and a fault detector is connected to the high voltage circuit for providing an error signal in response to excess current being supplied to the microwave generator. A control is operative to interrupt a supply of AC power to the high voltage circuit in response to the error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Carl Bretmersky, James W. Schmitkons, Jay Wolf