Abstract: A disclosed apparatus for sensing and processing an object in a cavity (104) comprises a sensing RF source (110) and a sensing antenna (112), and a processing RF source (120) and a processing antenna (122). The sensing RF source is configured to generate low power RF radiation at a first frequency range and the sensing antenna is configured to feed the cavity with RF radiation generated by the low power RF source. The processing RF source is configured to generate high power RF radiation at a second frequency range, and the processing antenna is configured to feed the cavity with RF radiation generated by the processing RF source. A protecting system (130) configured to protect the sensing RF source from RF radiation generated by the processing RF source may be provided.

Abstract: Systems, Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for cooking a food item using RF oven. The food item may include a tag containing information regarding food items associated with the food item. The RF oven may include an interface to receive the information. The RF oven may also include a processor to determine an amount of energy to be delivered to the food item based on the information. The processor may be configured to cause a RF power source to supply RF energy to cook the food item based on the determined amount of energy.

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: A method of heating and/or thawing using an RF heater is described. In some cases the heating differentially heats portions according to their dissipation ratios. Optionally, this avoids dissipating large amounts of energy into thawed portions while frozen portions are still extant and heat slowly. Optionally, this prevents overheating of thawed potions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining a value of a property of a material that flows in a conduit inside a microwave cavity are described. Such apparatus may include: a multi-mode microwave cavity having the conduit in it; a plurality of feeds, each configured to feed the cavity with RF radiation to excite multiple modes in the cavity; a detector, configured to detect parameters indicative of electrical response of the cavity to RF radiation fed to the cavity; and a processor, configured to determine the value of the property based on the parameters detected by the detector. In some embodiments, at least one of the feeds comprises a radiating element outside the cavity and a waveguide configured to guide waves from the radiating element to the cavity.

Abstract: Radiofrequency energy is applied to a container having an outer housing and an inner housing disposed at least partially within the outer housing. At least a portion of the inner housing is transparent to RF radiation. At least one antenna is configured to apply RF energy to an energy application zone within the inner housing. A processor is configured to control the application of RF energy to the energy application zone by selecting a set of modulation space elements (MSEs), and cause RF energy application at the modulation space elements of the selected set.

Abstract: A method for utilizing a reading of a machine readable element associated with a consumable product, may include storing, by a computer, in a memory in communication with the computer, a record of apparatus identification information associated with an apparatus having a reader for reading the machine readable element. The method may also include obtaining usage information based on a reading of the machine readable element by the reader, wherein the usage information comprises identity information indicative of an identity of a supplier of the consumable product and applying, by the computer, a debit to the supplier of the consumable product based on the usage information and the apparatus identification information.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for applying electromagnetic energy to an object in an energy application zone via one or more antennas at a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs), in which each MSE may affect a field pattern excited in the energy application zone and is controllable by the apparatus. The apparatus includes a processor that determines an amount of energy to be supplied to one or more of the antennas at each of the plurality of MSEs, select at least one power supply protocol for each of the plurality of MSEs, in which at least two of the power supply protocols selected for different MSEs differ, and cause electromagnetic power supply to one or more of the antennas in at least a subset of the plurality of MSEs, based on the determined amount of energy and based on the selected power supply protocol.

Abstract: An object is processed in a cavity resonator by application of radiofrequency energy to the cavity resonator through a plurality of feeds. Excitation setups are grouped into a plurality of peaks based on values of an absorbability indicator associated with each of the excitation setups. At least one peak among the plurality of peaks is selected based on the values of the absorbability indicator associated with the excitation setups grouped into each peak. Radiofrequency energy is applied to the cavity resonator based on the selection, in which the excitation setups are multi-dimensional.

Abstract: A method of processing an object is disclosed. The method comprises heating the object by applying radio frequency (RF) energy, monitoring a value related to a rate of absorption of RF energy by the object during the heating, and adjusting the RF energy in accordance with changes in a time derivative of the monitored value.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for processing an object in a cavity. The apparatuses include at least one radio frequency (RF) energy supply component configured to supply RF energy for application to one or more radiating elements configured to emit RF radiation in response to the applied RF energy. In some embodiments, a provided apparatus also includes a memory storing a set of coefficients associated with the RF energy supply component; and a processor configured to receive feedback in response to emission of RF radiation by the one or more radiating elements and control application of RF energy to one or more of the radiating elements based on the feedback and the set of coefficients.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing objects by RF energy are disclosed. In some embodiments the method may include grouping excitation setups into at least a first group corresponding to a first peak and a second group corresponding to a second peak. The method may further include applying RF energy such that an amount of RF energy absorbed at excitation setups of the first group is equal to an amount of RF energy absorbed at excitation setups of the second group. Apparatuses according to some embodiments may include a processor configured to carry out aspects of the method.

Abstract: A method of processing an object is disclosed. The method comprises heating the object by applying radio frequency (RF) energy, monitoring a value related to a rate of absorption of RF energy by the object during the heating, and adjusting the RF energy in accordance with changes in a time derivative of the monitored value.

Abstract: A method of processing an object is disclosed. The method comprises heating the object by applying radio frequency (RF) energy, monitoring a value related to a rate of absorption of RF energy by the object during the heating, and adjusting the RF energy in accordance with changes in a time derivative of the monitored value.

Abstract: Electromagnetic, energy is applied to an object at multiple modulation space elements (MSEs). MSEs are grouped into at least a first subset and a second subset according to a first grouping rule. A first EM energy application protocol is associated with the first subset and a second EM energy application protocol is associated with the second subset. Energy is applied at each of the plurality of MSEs according to the first EM energy application protocol and the second EM energy application protocol. MSEs are grouped into a third subset and a fourth subset according to a second grouping rule. A third EM energy application protocol is associated with the third subset and a fourth EM energy application protocol is associated with the fourth subset. EM energy at each of the plurality of MSEs is applied according to the third EM energy application protocol and the fourth EM energy application protocol.

Abstract: A heating profile of a microwave oven is modified using microwaves at a plurality of frequencies. A power of transmission to a cavity of the microwave oven of microwaves is defined at each of the plurality of frequencies. A duration is defined for which the microwaves are transmitted at each of the plurality of frequencies. For each of the plurality of frequencies, a proportion of power input to the cavity that is not output from the cavity is measured. The measured proportions am used to modify the power of transmission at each frequency, the duration of transmission at each frequency or both.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for applying EM energy to a load. The apparatuses and methods may include at least one processor configured to receive information indicative of energy dissipated by the load for each of a plurality of modulation space elements. The processor may also be configured to associate each of the plurality of modulation space elements with a corresponding time duration of power application, based on the received information. The processor may be further configured to regulate energy applied to the load such that for each of the plurality of modulation space elements, power is applied to the load at the corresponding time duration of power application.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying RF energy to an energy application zone is disclosed. The apparatus may include: a set of receiving radiating elements, including at least first and second radiating elements sequentially interconnected. The sequential interconnection may be such that energy received by one of the receiving radiating element from the energy application zone is emitted back to the energy application zone by the next radiating element in the sequence and energy received by the last radiating element in the sequence from the energy application zone is emitted back to the energy application zone by the first radiating element in the sequence.

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: Devices and methods for RF heating of food, using techniques which allow uniformity and/or controlled non-uniformity.