Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for drying, especially cannabis, are provided. One of the provided methods includes: heating the cannabis in a cavity of a variable frequency microwave oven using at least two different frequencies; measuring temperature of at least 1 cm square of the cannabis at different times during the heating; and controlling the heating based on the temperature measured so that the cannabis is kept for at least 20 minutes at temperatures above 30° C. and below 100° C.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing an object includes a cavity for receiving therein the object. A plurality of processing antennas are configured to coherently feed the cavity with RF radiation generated by a processing RF source. A memory stores processing instructions for each object from a given group of objects. A user interface is configured to receive identification of an object to be processed from a user. A processor is configured to receive from the interface indication of the identification of the object, select a processing instruction based on the indication, and control the processing RF source to radiate according to the selected processing instruction. The energy processing instruction includes a plurality of excitation setups, each excitation setup of said plurality of excitation setups including amplitudes, each of which is associated with one of the plurality of antennas, and one or more phase differences associated with each two antennas associated with non-zero amplitudes.

Abstract: A solid state microwave module is described. The solid state microwave module includes one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs); a microwave solid state amplifier assembled to the one or more PCBs; an antenna interface assembled to the one or more PCBs; a TEM or semi-TEM transmission line printed on the one or more PCBs and connecting the microwave solid state amplifier to the antenna interface; and four ports printed on the one or more PCBs to couple four respective different portions of microwave signals going through the TEM or semi-TEM transmission line to at least one power meter.

Abstract: Described are apparatuses and methods for heating an object in a cavity by microwave energy. The apparatus includes, in some embodiments, multiple antennas; a microwave source configured to feed the cavity with microwave energy via the multiple antennas; and multiple radiators. Each of the radiators is configured to controllably move so as to couple the source to a respective one of the multiple antennas or decouple the source from the respective one of the multiple antennas.

Abstract: There is provided a method for monitoring and control of heating food portions in heaters, each installed in communication with a respective client computer in communication with a same server, the method performed by the server comprising: receiving from the client computers, RF signatures, each RF signature being based on measured reflections of RF signals transmitted within a cavity of one of the heaters containing therein a food portion, analyzing the RF signatures, determining for each heater based on the analysis of the RF signatures, at least one heating instruction to operate each heater to heat the food portion therein; and transmitting to each of the client computers, the respective at least one determined heating instruction comprising instructions to generate RF signals and transmit the RF signals to the food portions using heating antennas of the heater.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing an object includes a cavity for receiving therein the object. A plurality of processing antennas are configured to coherently feed the cavity with RF radiation generated by a processing RF source. A memory stores processing instructions for each object from a given group of objects. A user interface is configured to receive identification of an object to be processed from a user. A processor is configured to receive from the interface indication of the identification of the object, select a processing instruction based on the indication, and control the processing RF source to radiate according to the selected processing instruction. The energy processing instruction includes a plurality of excitation setups, each excitation setup of said plurality of excitation setups including amplitudes, each of which is associated with one of the plurality of antennas, and one or more phase differences associated with each two antennas associated with non-zero amplitudes.

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: A method of applying RF energy to an object in a cavity is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may include applying to the object a first amount of RF energy at power increasing from an initial power level to a final power level; and if an electrical discharge occurs, stopping RF energy application for a period sufficient to allow the electrical discharge to decay. The method may further include applying to the object a second amount of RF energy after the period ends. The second amount of RF energy may be applied at intermediate power, higher than the initial power level and lower than the final power level.

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: 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: A method of applying RF energy to an object in a cavity is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may include applying to the object a first amount of RF energy at power increasing from an initial power level to a final power level; and if an electrical discharge occurs, stopping RF energy application for a period sufficient to allow the electrical discharge to decay. The method may further include applying to the object a second amount of RF energy after the period ends. The second amount of RF energy may be applied at intermediate power, higher than the initial power level and lower than the final power level.