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: The present invention reduces viscosity of highly viscous materials before entering a pump inlet by applying radio-frequency heating to the volume of material in a cage of rods that serve as electrodes surrounding a perforated inlet conduit. Applications include heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials such as tar and pitch in reservoirs, and sludge accumulating within oil storage tanks, ships, and barges. A mixer can be added to aid the process.

Abstract: A controller is connected to at least one transistor of the transistor driving circuit and connected to the at least one current sensing element to detect the current through the induction heating coil and in response to the current through the at least one current sensing coil exceeding a limit level sending a control signal to the at least one transistor of the transistor driving circuit to temporarily turn off the at least one transistor.

Abstract: A microwave heating device includes a variable frequency microwave power supply, a waveguide launcher, and a fixture to contain a material to be heated, with the fixture located directly adjacent to the end of the launcher. All heating occurs in the near-field region, i.e., no cavity modes or standing waves are established within the fixture. This condition may be insured by keeping the thickness of the fixture or workpiece under one wavelength (at all microwave frequencies being used). The launcher is preferably a horn configured to spread the microwave power laterally over a selected area while maintaining a single propagating mode. The invention may be used to enhance catalytic reactions for research and other purposes. Alternatively, the invention may be configured to perform spot curing or repair operations involving adhesives and composites.

Abstract: A microwave heating device includes a variable frequency microwave power supply, a waveguide launcher, and a fixture to contain a material to be heated, with the fixture located directly adjacent to the end of the launcher. All heating occurs in the near-field region. This condition may be insured by keeping the thickness of the fixture or workpiece under one wavelength (at all microwave frequencies being used). The launcher is preferably a horn or waveguide configured to apply the microwave power to a small area to perform spot curing or repair operations involving adhesives and composites. The spot curing may secure components in place for further handling, after which a thermal or oven treatment will cure the remaining adhesive to develop adequate strength for service. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A defrosting system includes an RF signal source, an electrode proximate to a cavity within which a load to be defrosted is positioned, and a transmission path between the RF signal source and the electrode. The system also includes power detection circuitry coupled to the transmission path and configured repeatedly to take forward and reflected RF power measurements along the transmission path. A system controller repeatedly determines, based on the forward and reflected RF power measurements, a calculated rate of change, and repeatedly compares the calculated rate of change to a threshold rate of change. When the calculated rate of change compares favorably with the threshold rate of change, the RF signal source continues to provide the RF signal to the electrode until a determination is made that the defrosting operation is completed, at which time the RF signal source ceases to provide the RF signal to the electrode.

Abstract: A disclosed computer-implemented method for heating an item in a chamber of an electronic oven towards a target state includes heating the item with a set of applications of energy to the chamber while the electronic oven is in a respective set of configurations. The set of applications of energy and respective set of configurations define a respective set of variable distributions of energy in the chamber. The method also includes sensing sensor data that defines a respective set of responses by the item to the set of applications of energy. The method also includes generating a plan to heat the item in the chamber. The plan is generated by a control system of the electronic oven and uses the sensor data.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and methods for operating the same in a crisp reheat cycle are provided. In one example aspect, the cooking appliance includes features for crisp reheating a food item that has been cooked and chilled thereafter. The cooking appliance includes a casing defining a cooking cavity configured to receive food items. The cooking appliance also includes a controller. The controller can access data that provides a plurality of crisp reheating instructions for operating the cooking appliance in a crisp reheat cycle for various food items. The controller retrieves a crisp reheating instruction associated with a food type selected by a user. The controller then commences the crisp reheat cycle by activating heating elements of the cooking appliance, such as a microwave module, an upper heater module, a lower heater module, and a convection module.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may include a housing defining at least one internal compartment. The housing may be waterproof. The aerosol-generating device may further include a power supply, an electric heater, and/or a haptic feedback device. Each of the power supply, electric heater, and/or haptic feedback device may be positioned within one or more of the at least one internal compartment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a heating device (1c) for inductively heating a stator (2) or armature (3) of an electric machine, in particular before and during trickle impregnation thereof. In addition, the invention relates to an impregnating device (50) in which this heating device (1c) is integrated. According to the invention, it is provided that the heating takes place inductively by electromagnetic fields of different frequencies. For this purpose, it is provided in the case of the heating device (1c) that it has at least one electromagnetic inductor (18, 21, 24) which is disposed coaxially or axially parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis (7) of the stator (2) or armature (3) and which inductively heats said stator or armature, and that the at least one inductor (18, 21, 24) is designed to generate at least two electromagnetic fields of different frequencies.

Abstract: An induction cooker includes a top plate on which a cooking container is placed; a heating coil placed below the top plate and that heats the cooking container; an infrared sensor placed below the heating coil and that detects infrared radiation emitted from the cooking container; a sensor casing that houses the infrared sensor; and a magnetic path forming member placed on a top face of the sensor casing. The magnetic path forming member guides magnetic flux passing above the infrared sensor by being generated from the heating coil.

Abstract: A device includes an antenna configured to be disposed within a cavity of an appliance. The appliance includes an electrode and the antenna includes a sheet of conductive material having a surface area that is equal to or greater than a surface area of the electrode. The device includes a voltage sensor coupled to the antenna, an output device, and a controller coupled to the voltage sensor and the output device. The controller is configured to generate an output at the output device. The output is determined by a voltage of the antenna.

Abstract: A microwave heating device includes radiating portions adapted to radiate microwaves to the heating chamber and is operated according to operational configurations that differ in frequency or in phase shift(s) between the radiated microwaves. A learning procedure is executed by sequentially operating the radiating portions in several operational configurations. Energy efficiency data are calculated for those operational configurations. An operating frequency is selected based on energy efficiency data. An operational configuration with a maximum energy efficiency at the selected operating frequency is taken as a reference. A heating procedure is executed by sequentially operating the radiating portions in operational configurations having the selected operating frequency and respective phase shift(s) chosen around the respective phase shift(s) of the reference operational configuration.

Abstract: An induction heating device includes: a base plate; a working coil disposed vertically above the base plate, the working coil including a conducting wire that is annularly wound; a ferrite core that is disposed on an upper surface of the base plate, that is disposed vertically below the working coil, and that is configured to direct upward an alternating magnetic field generated by the working coil; and an insulating member attached to an outer portion of the ferrite core and configured to electrically insulate the working coil from the base plate.

Abstract: A method for trickle impregnation of a stator or armature of an electric machine with a synthetic resin curing under temperature increase comprises heating the stator or the armature from an initial temperature to a trickle temperature range of the synthetic resin; keeping constant the temperature in the trickle temperature range and introducing the synthetic resin into the stator or the armature; heating the stator or the armature to a curing temperature range; keeping constant the temperature of the stator or the armature in the curing temperature range and setting and curing the synthetic resin to a duroplast; and cooling down the stator or the armature. The trickle temperature range has lower temperatures than the curing temperature range. The method includes inductively heating the stator or the armature. The stator or the armature may be disposed in an impregnation device.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus acquires input of a plurality of power supplies of different phases. The cooking apparatus includes a plurality of heating coils including a first heating coil and a second heating coil, a plurality of inverters including a first inverter and a second inverter, and a switching circuit configured to selectively provide power from among a first power or a second power supply to at least one of the first inverter or the second inverter.

Abstract: A semiconductor or other substrate can include one or more electrodes, located directly or indirectly on the substrate, separated from each other and coupled to the substrate. At the two or more electrodes, non-zero frequency time-varying electrical energy can be received. The time-varying electrical energy can be coupled via the two or more electrodes to trigger a displacement current to activate free carriers confined within the semiconductor substrate to generate frequency-controlled heat in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a frame defining a cooking chamber, a a magnetron for generating microwaves to cook food received in the cooking chamber, a door connected to the frame and configured to open and close the cooking chamber, a gasket disposed at the door and configured to contact a front portion of the frame based on the door closing the cooking chamber, and a leakage prevention part that is disposed at the door and that defines a space portion for preventing leakage of the microwaves. The gasket is coupled to the space portion.

Abstract: A microwave shielding plate and a cooking device are disclosed. The microwave shielding plate includes one or more conductive layers, a conductor is provided in each of the conductive layers, and two ends of the conductor are provided with wiring points, so that a shielding section covering the conductive layers is formed when the conductor is coupled into a conductive loop.

Abstract: A defrosting system includes an RF signal source, two electrodes proximate to a cavity within which a load to be defrosted is positioned, a transmission path between the RF signal source and the electrodes, and an impedance matching network electrically coupled along the transmission path between the output of the RF signal source and the electrodes. The system also includes power detection circuitry coupled to the transmission path and configured to detect reflected signal power along the transmission path. A system controller is configured to modify, based on the reflected signal power, values of variable capacitors of the impedance matching network to reduce the reflected signal power. The impedance matching network may be a single-ended network or a double-ended network.