Abstract: A microwave oven with a microprocessor and a read only memory for storing a plurality of cooking programs corresponding to a plurality of recipes. The cooking program corresponding to each recipe comprises data concerning a heating energy intensity and a cooking time period as determined for a unit quantity of a material to be cooked. The microwave oven is adapted for the entry of data representing the actual quantity of a material to be cooked relative to said unit quantity, and the microprocessor is adapted such that the cooking time period of a selected cooking program is modified as a function of said quantity data, whereby a modified cooking time period is set. A magnetron oscillator is controlled based on the heating energy intensity read out from the selected cooking program and the modified cooking time period prepared by means of the microprocessor, whereby a heat cooking operation best suited for the actual quantity of the material to be cooked is automatically performed.

Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus comprises a solid state oscillating circuit, a pre-amplifier module for amplifying the output of the oscillating circuit, a plurality of amplifier modules for amplifying the output of the pre-amplifier module, a first power supply source for energizing the solid state oscillating circuit and a second power supply source for energizing all of the amplifier modules. Such an apparatus further comprises a delay circuit for activating the first power supply source after the second power supply source has been activated and the amplifier modules have been in a stable state.

Abstract: An inductive heating device for uniformly heating a workpiece at rest has a plurality of heating coil units disposed so as to surround the workpiece. The heating coil units are connected in parallel to a power source, and a transformer is used to vary the voltage across the terminals of the outermost units to increase the current flowing through these outermost units. The device, therefore, has a very short insufficient heating temperature zone attributable to an end magnetic flux effect.

Abstract: In order to boil eggs or other foods not suitable for cooking with direct microwave radiation, a receptacle containing such foods is separated from a microwave source by a radiation shield overlain by a heating vessel partly filled with water which is exposed to the microwaves. This vaporizes the water and the resulting steam is admitted through one or more tubes into the receptacle for a rapid heating of its contents. The shield may reflect the incident microwaves into the water bath.

Abstract: A susceptor for use in a chemical vapor deposition process in a radiant absorption heating system comprises a heater adapted to absorb radiant energy and a sheath of high purity quartz completely surrounding the heater. The sheath further comprises dimples inside the sheath spacing the sheath from the heater. The heater may be graphite having a substantially pinhole-free outgas-inhibiting outer-coating such as silicon carbide.

Abstract: An electronically controlled cooking apparatus including a heating source for heating an article to be heated, an infrared sensor for detecting temperature of the article and a control member for controlling drive of the heating source. The control member further includes a first memory for storing a predetermined heating temperature of the article and a second memory for storing a predetermined minimum heating time period for heating the article.

Abstract: A microwave heater for thawing a frozen cake uniformly and in a short time. The frozen cake is placed on a high-frequency transmissive resin tray having at the bottom thereof an aluminum plate, and the cake is covered by a cup-shaped aluminum container. The cup-shaped aluminum container and the aluminum plate are respectively provided with a plurality of apertures, and radiation of microwave energy to the frozen cake is controlled with respect to the amount and direction of its introduction by selecting the sizes and positions of the apertures of the cup-shaped container and the aluminum plate.

Abstract: A door lock apparatus of an electric cooker has a handle movably supported by a door which is mounted on a housing of the cooker and capable of moving to open/close an opening. Two hooks are pivotally mounted on the inner face of the door. Each hook is disposed engageable with the housing for locking the door in a closed position, thereby closing the opening and a switch for controlling an oscillation of a magnetron. The hooks are biased by biasing member to a position at which the hooks engage with the housing. Pushers are supported by the door to be movable along the axis thereof, respectively. Each pusher has two ends and abuts against the handle at one end and against the hook at the other end. When the handle is moved, each pusher pivots the hook to release engagement between the hook and the housing. Each hook has an arcuated action surface which abuts against the other end of the pusher.

Abstract: A pair of jaws moveable with respect to one another whether mounted in a hand held sealer or desk mounted sealer, compresses, heats, elongates, spreads and welds liquid filled tubing placed therebetween. Variants of the pair of jaws provide means for serially or simultaneously segmenting the tubing into a plurality of sealed compartments. The pair of jaws are electrically connected to a source of RF energy as the plates of a variable capacitor in an RF resonant circuit. The flow of RF energy across the pair of jaws, which energy heats the tubing and, in conjunction with mechanical pressure, makes the weld, is a function of timing and of the spacing between the jaws which spacing affects the degree of resonance of the RF resonant circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for anticipating the occurrence of a fire in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven. The oven is provided with a blower for continuously circulating outside air through the cooking cavity to carry away gases by food loads being heated therein. A sensor responsive to the concentration of gases in the circulating air monitors the gas concentration level and generates an output signal representative thereof. Sensor monitoring circuitry responsive to the sensor output signal is operative to determine the rate of change of the gas concentration level, and a detect a characteristic rate of change indicative of the load being heated closely approaching its combustion point. Upon detection of the characteristic rate of change, power to the oven is turned off and and indication is provided to the user that a combustion condition in the oven cavity is imminent.

Abstract: An induction heating process and apparatus for flameless heating of metallic dental laboratory tools, medical instruments, and the like. The induction heating coil is energized by placement of instruments within the annular zone formed by the windings of the coil, and differential light sensors are utilized to compensate for variations in ambient light levels.

Abstract: A pair of jaws moveable with respect to one another whether mounted in a hand held sealer or desk mounted sealer, compresses, heats, elongates, spreads and welds liquid filled tubing placed therebetween. Variants of the pair of jaws provide means for serially or simultaneously segmenting the tubing into a plurality of sealed compartments. The pair of jaws are electrically connected to a source of RF energy as the plates of a variable capacitor in an RF resonant circuit. The flow of RF energy across the pair of jaws, which energy heats the tubing and, in conjunction with mechanical pressure, makes the weld, is a function of timing and of the spacing between the jaws which spacing affects the degree of resonance of the RF resonant circuit.

Abstract: An induction cooking apparatus having a plurality of induction heating coils disposed in an array for induction-heating a metallic heating load by electromagnetic induction. Air inlet ports are formed at the front end of the appliance to admit cooling air for cooling the interior of the cooking appliance and air outlet ports are formed at the rear end of the appliance. The apparatus ensures comfortable cooking without exposing the user to hot exhaust air and, also, better cooling without drawing in hot exhaust air or hot steam from the food materials.

Abstract: A pressure compensating container having a cavity and including an open end. A closure lid is provided for sealing the open end of the container. A pressure regulating device is operatively connected to the container for regulating the pressure within the cavity. The base portion and the lid portion are constructed of a microwave permeable material. A safety pressure relief valve is provided having a manually operated pressure relief button for relieving the pressure within said cavity of said pressure compensating container.

Abstract: A pair of jaws moveable with respect to one another whether mounted in a hand held sealer or desk mounted sealer, compresses, heats, elongates, spreads and welds liquid filled tubing placed therebetween. Variants of the pair of jaws provide means for serially or simultaneously segmenting the tubing into a plurality of sealed compartments. The pair of jaws are electrically connected to a source of RF energy as the plates of a variable capacitor in an RF resonant circuit. The flow of RF energy across the pair of jaws, which energy heats the tubing and, in conjunction with mechanical pressure, makes the weld, is a function of timing and of the spacing between the jaws which spacing affects the degree of resonance of the RF resonant circuit.

Abstract: A utensil for cooking or baking in a microwave oven. The utensil includes a partitioned tray and cover which are held in substantially fixed horizontal alignment by a microwave transparent base. The tray and cover are metallic and shield the interior there defined from microwave energy. A ferrite layer on the underside of the tray absorbs microwave energy to provide heat which conducts through the tray to the cooking compartments. The utensil can be used to fry and bake different foods simultaneous without intermixing the respective juices. Apertures in the cover provide for the escape of steam from the interior of the utensil.

Abstract: The converter device comprises a magnetic rotor (2) rotatively mounted integral with primary shaft (1) of the device and a heat exchanger (5) having electrically conducting walls through the helically-shaped inner cavity (6) of which a fluid is caused to flow and within the walls of which rotating induction produced by a rotor generates eddy currents. A tachometer generator (8) measures the shaft rotational speed and controls, as a function of the said speed, the angular position of an electric motor (9), which drives the exchanger (5) along a linear translation path in a direction parallel to the rotor axis. Due to such a closed-loop control, the resistant torque is governed by a predetermined relation. The device can be used to convert to heat rotational kinetic energy from a wind turbine.

Abstract: A quartz lamp heater is disclosed for a combined microwave, infrared and convection cooking oven. The quartz infrared lamps have blinds which either direct the infrared rays toward the food for broiling, or towards a rotating heat exchanger/fan, which in turn transfers heat to the air and blows it out and down towards the food. A quarterwave choke is provided to prevent microwaves from exiting the cavity through the power leads to the quartz lamp heaters.

Abstract: Quarterwave chokes mounted on the ends of a quartz lamp about the power leads to the lamp and further mounted on the interior cavity wall of a microwave oven. The chokes permit connection of the quartz lamp to a power source via power leads passing through the cavity wall without allowing microwave energy to escape from the cavity along the power leads.

Abstract: An automatic heating apparatus comprising a sensor such as a humidity sensor or a gas sensor which senses water vapor, alcohol, CO.sub.2 gas or the like emitted from a foodstuff being heated for automatically completing cooking. A microcomputer, which is a controller, monitors variations in the quantity of emitted water vapor, CO.sub.2 gas, alcohol or the like with respect to time and, on the basis of the result of this monitoring, decides automatically whether the foodstuff is covered or not with a plastic sheet or is enclosed or not in a lidded container. According to the result of this decision, the heating data including the heating duration and heating output are modified so as to attain optimum heating regardless of the presence or absence of the cover or regardless of the volume of the lidded container.