Abstract: A stirrer shaft for a microwave oven includes a shaft body configured to connect between a stirrer motor on a first end of the shaft body, and a set of stirrer blades spaced apart from the stirrer motor. The stirrer body includes a flow passage therethrough for equalizing pressure in a sealed stirrer cavity of the microwave oven.

Abstract: A microwave treatment device includes a plurality of radiation parts, a transmission line, and a plurality of feeding parts. The plurality of radiation parts includes first, second, and third radiation parts, and radiates a microwave. The transmission line has a loop line structure provided with a plurality of branch parts including first, second, and third branch parts, and transmits the microwave to the first, second, and third radiation parts respectively connected to the first, second, and third branch parts. The plurality of feeding parts includes the first feeding part and the second feeding part arranged in the transmission line at an interval of ¼ or less of the wavelength of the microwave, and transmits the microwave to the transmission line. According to this aspect, a radiation part that radiates the microwave can be selectively switched. This enables the intended heating distribution to be achieved.

Abstract: Method of irradiating a load placed in a cavity by radiating UHF or microwave radiation into the cavity. The method includes setting transmission durations, by setting for each of a plurality of frequencies, a respective transmission duration, repeatedly causing energy to be transmitted into the cavity at the plurality of frequencies according to a duty cycle, wherein the duty cycle defines an allotted transmission time for each of the plurality of frequencies, and switching ON or OFF transmission of the energy at certain frequencies, so that over a plurality of repetitions of the duty cycle the energy is transmitted at each of the plurality of frequencies for the respective transmission duration.

Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus includes a cavity arranged to receive a load. At least one microwave generator is configured to feed a plurality of microwaves into the cavity. At least one image-capturing device and a control unit is adapted to obtain load volume information of the load within the cavity based on information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load, obtain load density information using at least one of a user input and information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load, determine load mass information based upon the load volume information and the load density information, determine a heating pattern based upon the load mass information and control the at least one microwave generator to provide the heating pattern within the cavity.

Abstract: Control electronics may control power amplifier electronics associated with application of RF energy generated using solid state electronic components. The power amplifier electronics may be configured to control application of RF energy in an oven according to a cooking recipe at least in part based on a learning procedure that generates a power cycling between high and low powers when the learning procedure is executed. The control electronics may include processing circuitry configured to employ a thermal stress mitigation technique to control thermal stresses on the power amplifier electronics associated with the power cycling.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing an electromagnetic cooking device includes selecting a frequency from a set of frequencies in a bandwidth of radio frequency electromagnetic waves; setting a subset of a set of radio frequency feeds to output a radio frequency signal of the selected frequency; measuring a forward power level for the subset of the set of radio frequency feeds that is outputting the radio frequency signal; measuring a forward and backward power level for the set of radio frequency feeds; and processing the measurements of the forward and backward power levels to determine an operating condition of the electromagnetic cooking device based on the processing of the measurements of the forward and backward power levels.

Abstract: An electromagnetic energy delivery system includes a set of radio frequency channels. Each channel includes a radio frequency feed, at least one high-power amplifier and a phase-shifting component. Each high-power radio frequency amplifier includes at least one amplifying component configured to output a periodic signal that is amplified in power with respect to an input radio frequency common reference signal. The phase-shifting component is configured to modulate the phase of the output periodic signal with respect to the input radio frequency signal. A controller coupled to the set of radio frequency channels can be configured to cause the output periodic signals from each of the radio frequency channels is to have a time-varying phase difference relative to the common reference signal and a phase difference relative to the other output periodic signals that is constant when averaged over time.

Abstract: An electromagnetic cooking device includes a cavity in which a food load is placed, a plurality of RF feeds for introducing electromagnetic radiation into the enclosed cavity, and a controller configured to detect asymmetries and select rotations that compensate for the asymmetries; select a heating target including a plurality of resonant modes that are rotated using the selected rotations in the preceding step; generate a heating strategy based on the heating target to determine a sequence of desired heating patterns; cause the RF feeds to output a radio frequency signal to thereby excite the enclosed cavity with a selected set of phasors for a set of frequencies; and monitor the created heating patterns based on the forward and backward power measurements at the RF feeds to use closed-loop regulation to selectively modify the sequence of resonant modes into the enclosed cavity based on the desired heating patterns as monitored.

Abstract: An electromagnetic cooking device includes a cavity in which a food load is placed, a plurality of RF feeds for introducing electromagnetic radiation into the enclosed cavity, and a controller configured to select a heating target including a plurality of unrotated resonant modes; detect asymmetries of the food load relative to a center of the enclosed cavity and select rotations for the plurality of unrotated resonant modes that compensate for the detected asymmetries of the food load to generate a plurality of optimized resonant modes; generate a heating strategy having a selected sequence of the optimized resonant modes; cause the RF feeds to excite the enclosed cavity with a selected set of phasors for a set of frequencies corresponding to each resonant mode of the selected sequence of optimized resonant modes; and monitor the created heating patterns using closed-loop regulation to selectively modify the sequence of optimized resonant modes.

Abstract: A method for controlling a power of an electromagnetic cooking device is shown. The method includes controlling a power supply to deliver a power level to the amplifier and monitoring at least one RF feed delivered to an enclosed cavity. The method further includes identifying an output power based on the RF feed and comparing the output power to a maximum power. A power difference of the output power compared to a target power is determined, and the power difference is compared to a plurality of difference thresholds. Based on the comparison, the power level is adjusted by a plurality of power adjustment magnitudes.

Abstract: A control method for an inductive power supply (IPS), according to one embodiment of the present invention, can comprise the steps of: applying a ping for sensing an object; measuring a coil current; sensing the object on the basis of the coil current measurement result; transmitting, to the object, the minimum power for waking up a communication unit of the object, wherein the communication unit performs communication by using an out-of band communication protocol; receiving, from the object, pairing information through the out-of band communication protocol so as to perform pairing with the object; and transmitting main power to the paired object.

Abstract: A microwave heating system includes: a power supply; a first semiconductor module configured to receive power from the power supply and to generate a first microwave; a second semiconductor module configured to receive power from the power supply and to generate a second microwave; a heating chamber that is configured to accommodate an object at an inside of the heating chamber and that allows transmission of the first microwave and the second microwave to the inside of the heating chamber; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control operation of each of the first semiconductor module and the second semiconductor module, and to control at least one of a frequency, a phase, or a magnitude of each of the first microwave and the second microwave to increase a heating uniformity of the object.

Abstract: A waveguide spectrometer includes at least one substrate layer with at least one waveguide. Each waveguide extends from an inlet face proceeding partly through the substrate layer to a reflecting element. A multiplicity of photo detectors is arranged on a front side of the substrate layer, while the photo detectors are electrically connected to an electronic read out system. The spectrometer can be made lightweight and easier to produce by forming the waveguides as surface waveguides, each showing a longitudinal opening with a width to the front side of the substrate layer between the inlet face and the reflecting element. The photo detectors are in print distributed at the front side on top of the substrate layer at least partly overlapping the longitudinal opening along an overall length of sampled region and the electrical connection of the photo detectors with the electronic read out system is achieved by a multiplicity of printed electrical conductors.

Abstract: A divider assembly is provided for dividing a cooking cavity of a microwave oven into two cooking subcavities. The divider assembly includes a first tempered glass panel, a metal frame extending around the periphery of the first tempered glass panel to support the first tempered glass panel, a honeycomb core positioned above the first tempered glass panel, a second tempered glass panel positioned above the honeycomb core, and a gasket extending around the periphery of the metal frame for engaging metal walls of the microwave oven, wherein the gasket includes small-diameter, long-length carbon nano-tubes.

Abstract: An electromagnetic cooking device includes an enclosed cavity, a plurality of RF feeds configured to introduce electromagnetic radiation into the cavity and to measure forward and backward power, and a controller configured to: select a heating target corresponding to an amount of energy that is to be to delivered to each symmetry plane in the cavity; generate a heating strategy based on the heating target to determine a sequence of desired heating patterns, the heating strategy having a selected sequence of resonant modes for energy transfer to the cavity that corresponds to the sequence of desired heating patterns; excite the cavity with a selected set of phasors corresponding to each resonant mode of the selected sequence to create heating patterns; and monitor the created heating patterns to use closed-loop regulation to selectively modify the sequence of resonant modes based on the desired heating patterns.

Abstract: This disclosure includes methods and systems that utilize energy absorption monitoring for intelligent electronic ovens with energy steering. One disclosed method for heating an item in an electronic oven includes introducing an application of energy into a heating chamber using an energy source coupled to an injection port, changing a distribution of the application of energy in the heating chamber by setting a configuration of the oven to a first configuration, and measuring an energy return from the heating chamber while the oven is in the first configuration. The measuring is conducted using a radio frequency directional power sensor. The method also includes determining that the energy return from the heating chamber exceeds a level, adjusting, in response to determining that the energy return exceeds the level, the configuration of the oven from the first configuration to an altered first configuration, and saving the altered first configuration in a memory.

Abstract: The present invention has a configuration of controlling a motor so as to stop a radiation antenna when the radiation antenna faces in a direction in which a reflected wave detection amount is minimized and to stop the radiation antenna when the radiation antenna faces in a different direction different from the direction in which the reflected wave detection amount is minimized. According to this configuration, first, the radiation antenna stops when facing in the direction in which the reflected wave detection amount is minimized. This extends a heating time under the most efficient condition, improving a heating efficiency in comparison with when the radiation antenna constantly rotates. Second, the radiation antenna stops when facing in the different directions. This causes uneven heating when the radiation antenna faces in the direction in which the reflected wave detection amount is minimized as well as when the radiation antenna faces in the different directions.

Abstract: An electromagnetic cooking device includes an enclosed cavity; a set of radio frequency feeds configured to introduce electromagnetic radiation into the enclosed cavity to heat up and prepare food; a set of high-power radio frequency amplifiers coupled to the set of radio frequency feeds, each high-power amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage configured to output a signal that is amplified in power with respect to an input radio frequency signal; a signal generator coupled to the set of high-power radio frequency amplifiers for generating the input radio frequency signal, and a controller. The controller can be configured to, among other things, cause the signal generator and selected ones of the set of high-power amplifiers to output a radio frequency signal, select from a set of phase values of radio frequency electromagnetic waves, and identify the resonant modes excited within the enclosed cavity.

Abstract: A process for treating a surface coating of a bulk metal part, comprises the steps of placing, in a cavity, at least one what is called metal part including what is called a surface coating that is able to absorb microwaves at the frequency ?0, the cavity being surrounded by one or a plurality of first susceptors the dimensions, material and arrangement of which are configured to screen the microwaves at the frequency ?0, in the vicinity of each the metal part, and in emitting the microwaves at the frequency ?0 into the cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) for preparing at least one food product (1), comprising: a cooking chamber (10), in which at least one preparation area (5) is provided, wherein the at least one food product (1) can be positioned and prepared at the least one preparation area (5), at least one antenna arrangement (30) for supplying energy of electromagnetic energy (80) into the cooking chamber (10), whereby the at least one food product (1) can be heated, one transmission device (40) for operating the antenna arrangement (30), wherein at least one antenna (31) of the antenna arrangement (30) is oriented depending on the preparation area (5) and is operable according to at least one operation mode by the transmission device (40), so that a performance-optimized temperature zone distribution for heating the food product (1) can be generated.

Abstract: Provided is a microwave rice cooker, comprising a cavity structure, a door assembly and an inner pot (20). The cavity structure comprises a microwave transmitting mechanism, a cavity (2) provided with a cylindrical cooking chamber therein, and a top cap (1) and a bottom cap (5) located at two ends of the cooking chamber respectively. The bottom cap (5) closes the cooking chamber at the bottom. A top opening of the cooking chamber is formed on the top cap (1). The inner pot (20) can be put into or taken out of the cooking chamber through the top opening. The door assembly is mounted on the top cap (1) in an openable and closable manner so as to open or close the cooking chamber from the top. The microwave transmitting mechanism is mounted at the bottom of the bottom cap (5) to feed microwaves into the cooking chamber from the bottom. The microwave rice cooker achieves a two-in-one function of a microwave oven and a rice cooker.

Abstract: Method and systems for heating an item in a chamber where a first electromagnetic wave is applied to an array of variable reflectance elements and a corresponding array of variable impedance devices are disclosed. The corresponding array includes first and second variable impedance devices. The first wave is reflected from the array to the item when the first device has a first impedance value. The reflecting places a local maximum of energy at a first location on the item. An impedance of the first device is altered. A second electromagnetic wave is applied and reflected. The reflecting places the local maximum at a second location on the item. Altering the impedance of the first variable impedance device alters a reflectance of a first variable reflectance element in the array of variable reflectance elements.

Abstract: A microwave oven comprising a cavity in which a material can be placed for heating and a magnetron for generating a microwave. The microwave oven further comprises an electromagnetic element adapted to interact with microwaves into the cavity and a control unit that provides a control signal to the electromagnetic element for modifying an impedance of the electromagnetic element during time of heating.

Abstract: A microwave electrothermal thruster (MET) and its control system is disclosed and claimed. The MET control system uses a dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO) in series with a GaN MMIC-based Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA) to generate microwave energy, transfer it to a thrust chamber, and heat a propellant that exits a nozzle, providing thrust. The control system uses feedback to provide autonomous control of the MET. A wide variety of propellants may be used, including, for example, hydrazine, ammonia, and water.

Abstract: A smart table is disclosed. The smart table includes a plate, an inverter configured to convert direct current (DC) power into alternative current (AC) power and to supply the AC power, a coil unit disposed below the plate and including a plurality of working coils heated by the AC power, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to recognize an RFID tag of a home appliance placed on the plate and to receive information on the home appliance from the RFID tag, and a processor configured to drive one or more of the plurality of working coils as wireless power transmission coils to perform control to transmit wireless power to the home appliance based on the received information.

Abstract: According to one example, a system includes a computing device having a processor that is operable to display a first portion of a cooking recipe. The system further includes a heat source system having a heat source operable to provide an amount of energy to be used to cook a food item in accordance with the cooking recipe, and a processor operable to adjust the amount of energy provided by the heat source based on one or more communications with the computing device. The system further includes an auxiliary button system having an interface operable to receive an instruction to move from a first step of the cooking recipe to a second step, and a processor operable to transmit, via a second communication link with the computing device, an indication of the instruction.

Abstract: A furnace system includes a heating chamber, a retort assembly, and a waveguide. The heating chamber includes a shell encompassing an insulation layer and a working volume, where the working volume is configured to receive at least one part for heat treatment. The retort assembly is supported within the insulation layer and includes an inner retort surface facing the working volume. The inner retort surface is formed of at least one carbon compound reflective of microwave radiation, and the retort assembly defines a retort aperture. The waveguide is configured to direct microwave radiation from a microwave source to the retort aperture.

Abstract: A body component has a side edge, which extends in a longitudinal direction and on which at least one pre-fastening device is formed. The pre-fastening device has a section that protrudes from the side edge in a transverse direction, on which section a tab pointing toward the side edge is formed. The tab can be bent in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and is configured to be able to engage behind a frame edge of a vehicle frame part in a pre-fastening manner.

Abstract: A smart table is disclosed. The smart table includes a plate, an inverter configured to convert direct current (DC) power into alternative current (AC) power and to supply the AC power, a coil unit disposed below the plate and including a plurality of working coils heated by the AC power, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to recognize an RFID tag of a home appliance placed on the plate and to receive information on the home appliance from the RFID tag, and a processor configured to drive one or more of the plurality of working coils as wireless power transmission coils to perform control to transmit wireless power to the home appliance based on the received information.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes a waveguide having an E-bend structure with multiple openings disposed on a lateral face of a heating chamber that allow the waveguide to communicate with the heating chamber. The waveguide has a first section for propagating a microwave from a magnetron toward the heating chamber, and a second section having a wide plane that abuts an outer wall of the heating chamber. The openings include at least one circularly-polarized-wave opening for generating a circularly polarized wave. A cross section of the first section orthogonally intersects a tube axis of the first section projects virtually along the tube axis of first section and onto a lateral face of the heating chamber, and the circularly-polarized-wave opening is configured such that its center is located outside the resultant projected region.

Abstract: An acoustic wave device includes: a piezoelectric thin film resonator that is connected between a first node and a second node; and a resonant circuit that is connected in parallel with the piezoelectric thin film resonator between the first node and the second node, and has a resonant frequency f0 that meets a condition of 2×fa×0.92?f0 where fa represents an antiresonant frequency of the piezoelectric thin film resonator.

Abstract: A microwave heating device of the present invention comprises a heating chamber housing an object to be heated, a microwave generation portion generating a microwave, a waveguide portion propagating the microwave, and a plurality of microwave radiating portions radiating the microwave in the heating chamber, wherein the microwave radiating portions are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction of electric field and to a direction of propagation within the waveguide portion, and centers of the microwave radiating portions are arranged at positions corresponding to approximate node positions of the electric field within the waveguide portion. The microwave heating device is enabled to make uniform heat distribution in the object to be heated, without using a driving mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for dielectrically processing a product in a radio frequency (RF) cavity. The system may include a cavity; an RF feeding module that includes a plurality of radiating elements configured to feed RF radiation into the cavity, and a plurality of dummy loads for receiving RF energy coupled from the cavity into the radiating elements; and the system includes a processor configured to (a) estimate an effect operating the system at each of a plurality of sets of operating parameters will have on the temperature of each of the dummy loads; (b) choosing among the plurality of sets of operating parameters at least one set based on the estimation; and (c) controlling the system to operate at the chosen at least one set of operating parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing samples for chemical analysis includes a container receptacle for receiving a sample container having a crucible portion and an expansion portion. The container receptacle includes a heating compartment and a cooling compartment spaced apart from the heating compartment. The heating compartment is shaped to receive the crucible portion of the sample container, and the cooling compartment is shaped to receive the expansion portion of the sample container. The apparatus also includes a heating mechanism for heating the sample within the crucible portion of the sample container, a first cooling mechanism for cooling the expansion portion of the sample container, and a second cooling mechanism for cooling the crucible portion of the sample container.

Abstract: A method for matching an impedance of a system comprising a cavity and one or more feeds to an impedance of one or more sources of electromagnetic radiation irradiating a plurality of frequencies into the cavity via the feeds, comprising: determining a plurality of s-parameter of the system for a frequency band; determining the system impedance based on the s-parameters; and modifying the system impedance according to the difference between the impedance of the system and the impedance of the source.

Abstract: A control system for an oven including a plurality of heating elements positioned within the cooking cavity includes a temperature sensor configured to detect an air temperature within the cooking cavity, a user interface for receiving a desired temperature set point command, and a controller operatively coupled to the temperature sensor and user interface. The controller is configured to determine a power splitting ratio between the first and second heating elements based on user-specified cooking mode and/or type of food being cooked, determine a total power command signal based on a determined error value between the detected cavity air temperature and the desired temperature set point command, and adjust a power level of each of the first and second heating elements based on the total power command and the power splitting ratio.

Abstract: A system for heating one or more objects includes a first housing having a power unit configured to generate radio frequency (EM) radiation. One or more second housings include a heating unit having a cavity for positioning the one or more objects. One or more EM radiation conducting elements are configured to conduct the EM radiation from the power unit to the cavity for heating the one or more objects. The first housing and the one or more of the second housings are physically separated from one another.

Abstract: A test system for analyzing a circuit carrier which has been populated with a radio-frequency structure comprises a network analyzer having a signal generator for generating excitation signal which can be supplied to the radio-frequency structure via a signal line, an evaluation device for analyzing a measurement signal which returns from the radio-frequency structure, and a contact device which can be connected to the signal line and is intended to feed the excitation signal into the radio-frequency structure and to output the measurement signal. The contact device preferably has a measuring tip which is intended to hold test needles and can be used to make contact with a test point which is arranged on the circuit carrier and can be connected to the radio-frequency structure for signaling purposes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for continuously carrying out chemical reactions. The device comprises a microwave generator, a microwave applicator accommodating a microwave-transparent tube, and an isothermal reaction section which is arranged such that the material to be reacted is guided inside the microwave-transparent tube through a microwave applicator which is used as the heating zone and in which it is heated to reaction temperature by means of microwaves that are emitted from the microwave generator into the microwave applicator. The material to be reacted, which is heated and optionally under pressure, is transferred from the microwave applicator to an isothermal reaction zone once it has left the heating zone, said reaction zone being arranged downstream of the heating zone, and is cooled once it has left the isothermal reaction zone.

Abstract: An electromagnetic heater for heating an irregularly shaped object, including: a cavity within which an object is to be placed; at least one feed which feeds UHF or microwave energy into the cavity; and a controller that controls one or more characteristics of the cavity or energy to assure that the UHF or microwave energy is deposited uniformly in the object within ±30% over at least 80% of the volume of the object.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a multiple inputs and multiple outputs (MIMO) analyzer for an accurate control of electromagnetic fields inside a multimode resonant chamber with two or more cavities coupled in an accurate way through a slotted piece with slots or waveguide. The MIMO analyzer may include broadband antennas, different types of lenses, and different stirrers, which may be both metallic and non-metallic. These elements, together with some processes such as precise location of under-test elements out of the lower cavity allow for controlling the electromagnetic fields on its interior. This control permits the emulation of the behavior of wireless communication terminals under different fading scenarios, both indoors and outdoors. Some of the features and procedures of the MIMO analyser may be used in industrial microwave heating processes for drying and curing of materials, also known as microwave ovens, allowing a greater efficiency and homogenization in the processes.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes a cavity having a cooking chamber; a magnetron oscillating microwave radiation used for cooking food in the cooking chamber; and a plurality of radiation openings through which the microwave radiation is radiated into the cooking chamber, each of the radiation openings having a length in a direction where the microwave radiation is guided by a waveguide, the length being greater or less than ?/4.

Abstract: There is described a power splitter for directing electromagnetic power comprising: an input port for receiving the electromagnetic power; at least one dielectric element placed inside the power splitter; at least two output ports for outputting the power according to a splitting ratio, the at least two output ports placed on a surface opposite to the input port; and at least one dielectric moving device for positioning the at least one dielectric element between the at least two output ports to dynamically direct the power into the at least two output ports according to the power splitting ratio.

Abstract: A method of delivering energy to an object in a cavity may include transmitting electromagnetic energy to the cavity at a plurality of frequencies. At each of the plurality of frequencies, the method may also include determining an efficiency of energy transfer into the object and adjusting power transmitted at each of the plurality of frequencies such that a multiplicative product of the efficiency and the power transmitted is substantially constant across each of the plurality of frequencies.

Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus includes a microwave generation part 10 using a semiconductor element, and first and second heating chambers 100a, 100b to each of which a microwave generated in the microwave generation part is fed. A reflected microwave returned from at least one of the first and second heating chambers 100a, 100b to the microwave generation part is transmitted to the other heating chamber by a circulation type non-reciprocal circuit 118, so that generated power of the microwave generation part is substantially completely consumed upon heating of an article to be heated.

Abstract: A microwave applicator assembly includes a microwave applicator that excites TE modes and provides a generally circular heating pattern in a lossy dielectric material. The microwave applicator has a processing chamber bounded by a circumferential wall in which a plurality of indents are formed. The microwave applicator assembly may further include a feed waveguide coupled to the microwave applicator for inputting microwaves into the processing chamber. The microwave applicator assembly may further include one or more choking sections in communication with the processing chamber to enhance heating efficiency and reduce microwave leakage.

Abstract: An antenna cover assembly for a high-temperature operating environment has a cover plate, gasket portions, and a retainer plate. The cover plate has an inner side and an outer side, the cover plate being translucent to at least one selected frequency of electromagnetic energy. The gasket portions are each located adjacent one of the inner and outer sides, each gasket portion being configured for sealingly engaging the adjacent side. The retainer plate is configured for attachment to a structure located in a high-temperature operating environment. The retainer plate has a sealing flange adapted for clamping the cover plate generally adjacent an antenna portion of a waveguide.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing food products is provided. The product conditioning system includes an inlet assembly, a pressurizeable tunnel and an outlet assembly. The inlet assembly and outlet assembly include a pair of vertically extending pressure vessels having entry and exit openings which are both sealable by doors to provide liquid and gaseous tight seals. The inlet and outlet assembly pressure vessels further include a pair of vertically extending parallel screws for transporting food products from one end of the pressure vessel to the other. The pressurizeable tunnel includes a heating stage having microwave sources for irradiating food products so as to pasteurize or sterilize prepackaged food. The pressurizeable tunnel further includes a heat maintenance stage and product cooling stage. Both the heat maintenance stage and product cooling stage include vertically extending pressure vessels.

Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus includes a microwave generation part (5) having a plurality of output parts, a heating chamber (4) to contain an object to be heated, a plurality of feeding parts (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) supplying outputs of the plurality of output parts to the heating chamber, and a control part (6) controlling microwave radiation from the plurality of feeding parts to control an electromagnetic wave distribution in the heating chamber, in which a microwave is concentrated on the object to be heated put in the heating chamber.

Abstract: A method of delivering energy to an object in a cavity may include transmitting electromagnetic energy to the cavity at a plurality of frequencies. At each of the plurality of frequencies, the method may also include determining an efficiency of energy transfer into the object and adjusting power transmitted at each of the plurality of frequencies such that a multiplicative product of the efficiency and the power transmitted is substantially constant across each of the plurality of frequencies.