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: 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 device for washing, sanitizing, and/or sterilizing an item is disclosed. The device may comprise a solution applicator for coating a surface of said item with a washing, sanitizing and/or sterilizing solution. The device may also comprise a heating unit for heating the solution coated on the surface of said item to a working temperature. The device may further comprise a control unit for keeping the temperature of the treating substance at the working temperature for a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: A clothes dryer includes a cavity adapted to receive at least one item of clothing, at least one RF feed which feeds RF energy into the cavity, and a spectral imaging module adapted to provide a spectral image comprising input efficiency to the cavity as a function of frequency. A controller controls one or more characteristics of the RF energy to heat a liquid within and/or on fibers of the at least one item of clothing, in which the controller reduces amounts of energy directed to problem areas in the spectral image.

Abstract: A method of drying an object comprising, providing an object into an RF cavity; applying broadband RF energy to the object in controlled manner which keeps the object within a desired temporal temperature schedule and within a desired spatial profile; and terminating the drying when it is at least estimated that a desired drying level is achieved.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, kits, and systems relating to applying electromagnetic energy to an object located at least partially in an energy application zone are disclosed. Some apparatuses may include a processor configured to determine a preliminary amount of energy to be dissipated in the object and determine a corrected amount of energy based on the preliminary amount of energy and calibration information. The processor may be further configured to cause a source to transfer energy to the energy application zone and determine an amount of delivered energy, based on an amount of energy returned from the energy application zone and an amount of energy supplied to the energy application zone. The processor may also be configured to cause the source to transfer energy to the energy application zone at least until the amount of delivered energy equals the corrected amount of energy.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, kits, and systems relating to transferring electromagnetic energy to an energy application zone via a source of electromagnetic energy are disclosed. Some apparatuses may include a processor configured to determine a preliminary amount of energy to be dissipated in an object located at least partially in the energy application zone and determine a corrected amount of energy based on the preliminary amount of energy and calibration information. The processor may be further configured to estimate an amount of energy dissipated in the object. The processor may also be configured to cause the source to transfer energy to the energy application zone at least until the energy dissipated in the object as estimated equals the corrected amount of energy.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for processing objects with RF energy. The apparatus may include a display for displaying to a user an image of an object to be processed, the image including at least a first portion and a second portion of the object. The apparatus may also include an input unit and at least one processor configured to: receive information based on input provided to the input unit; and generate, based on the received information, processing information for use in processing the object to achieve a first processing result in the first portion of the object and a second processing result in the second portion of the object.

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: 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: Some aspects of the invention may be directed to an apparatus and method for applying RF energy to containers. The containers (e.g., pots, tanks, vats, kettles, reactors, etc.) may contain an object to be heated or processed by EM energy. The object may be in the liquid phase, gas phase, solid phase or any combination of phases thereof. The apparatus may comprise an outer housing. Optionally the outer housing may be substantially opaque to RF energy. The apparatus may further comprise an inner housing disposed at least partially within the outer housing, wherein at least a portion of the inner housing is configured to transmit RF energy. The apparatus may include at least one radiating element configured to apply RF energy to an energy application zone within the inner housing. In some embodiments the at least one radiating element is located external to the inner housing, optionally between the inner housing and the outer housing.

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 portions.

Abstract: A device for washing, sanitizing, and/or sterilizing an item is disclosed. The device may comprise a solution applicator for coating a surface of said item with a washing, sanitizing and/or sterilizing solution. The device may also comprise a heating unit for heating the solution coated on the surface of said item to a working temperature. The device may further comprise a control unit for keeping the temperature of the treating substance at the working temperature for a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying EM energy to a load may include at least one processor configured to receive information indicative of dissipated energy for each of a plurality of modulation space elements and group a number of the plurality of modulations space elements into at least two subsets based on the information received indicative of dissipated energy. The processor may also be configured to associate a power delivery protocol with each of the at least two subsets wherein the power delivery protocol differs between subsets and regulate energy applied to the load in accordance with each power delivery protocol.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, kits, and systems relating to applying electromagnetic energy to an object located at least partially in an energy application zone are disclosed. Some apparatuses may include a processor configured to determine a preliminary amount of energy to be dissipated in the object and determine a corrected amount of energy based on the preliminary amount of energy and calibration information. The processor may be further configured to cause a source to transfer energy to the energy application zone and determine an amount of delivered energy, based on an amount of energy returned from the energy application zone and an amount of energy supplied to the energy application zone. The processor may also be configured to cause the source to transfer energy to the energy application zone at least until the amount of delivered energy equals the corrected amount of energy.

Abstract: A device for heating one or more blood product units using electromagnetic (EM) energy is disclosed. The device comprises a chamber sized and shaped for containing at least one frozen blood product unit, a dielectric heating unit for applying electromagnetic (EM) energy at a plurality of frequencies to the at least one blood product unit, and a controller for operating the dielectric heating unit to heat the at least one frozen blood product unit to about a body temperature in less than 3 minutes according to a heating pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to apply electromagnetic energy to an object may include an energy application zone adapted to receive at least a portion of an object and a source configured to supply RF energy to the energy application zone. The apparatus may also include at least one processor configured to: cause the source to supply RF energy to the energy application zone; determine a value indicative of a rate of energy absorption by a load, including at least a portion of the object, during a first period of time; and determine, based on the value indicative of the rate of energy absorption by the load, an estimated amount of time to obtain a desired characteristic in at least a portion of the object.

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 portions.

Abstract: A method of drying an object comprising, providing an object into an RF cavity; applying broadband RF energy to the object in controlled manner which keeps the object within a desired temporal temperature schedule and within a desired spatial profile; and terminating the drying when it is at least estimated that a desired drying level is achieved.