Abstract: An RF generation system is provided for an electromagnetic cooking device having a cavity. The system includes: a signal generator for generating an input RF signal; an RF feed configured to introduce electromagnetic radiation into the cavity and to receive reflected electromagnetic radiation from the cavity; and a high-power amplifier coupled between the signal generator and the RF feed. The high-power amplifier including an amplifying stage configured to output a signal that is amplified in power, and a circulator for directing the amplified output signal to the RF feed and for redirecting any reflected radiation received from the RF feed to a dummy load. The system further includes a hardware protection component for detecting backward power in the reflected radiation and for reducing power supplied to the amplifying stage if the backward power exceeds a power threshold within a time scale that prevents damage to the circulator.

Abstract: An electromagnetic energy delivery system includes a set of radio frequency channels. Each channel includes a radio frequency feed, at least one high-power amplifier and a phase-shifting component. Each high-power radio frequency amplifier includes at least one amplifying component configured to output a periodic signal that is amplified in power with respect to an input radio frequency common reference signal. The phase-shifting component is configured to modulate the phase of the output periodic signal with respect to the input radio frequency signal. A controller coupled to the set of radio frequency channels can be configured to cause the output periodic signals from each of the radio frequency channels is to have a time-varying phase difference relative to the common reference signal and a phase difference relative to the other output periodic signals that is constant when averaged over time.

Abstract: An electromagnetic energy delivery system includes a set of radio frequency channels; each channel configured to receive a set of reference signals. Each channel further includes a compensation component and a phase-locked loop component. The compensation component can be configured to determine a phase difference between at least a subset of the reference signals; compare the phase difference with a predetermined reference phase difference; and determine a reference signal compensation offset value based on the comparison of the phase difference and the predetermined reference phase difference. The phase-locked loop component can be configured to generate a phase-shifted signal wherein the phase shift is based on at least the reference signal compensation offset value.

Abstract: An electromagnetic cooking device includes an enclosed cavity; a set of radio frequency feeds configured to introduce electromagnetic radiation into the enclosed cavity to heat up and prepare food; a set of high-power radio frequency amplifiers coupled to the set of radio frequency feeds, each high-power amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage configured to output a signal that is amplified in power with respect to an input radio frequency signal; a signal generator coupled to the set of high-power radio frequency amplifiers for generating the input radio frequency signal, and a controller. The controller can be configured to, among other things, cause the signal generator and selected ones of the set of high-power amplifiers to output a radio frequency signal, select from a set of phase values of radio frequency electromagnetic waves, and identify the resonant modes excited within the enclosed cavity.

Abstract: An electromagnetic energy delivery system includes a set of radio frequency channels; each channel configured to receive a set of reference signals. Each channel further includes a compensation component and a phase-locked loop component. The compensation component can be configured to determine a phase difference between at least a subset of the reference signals; compare the phase difference with a predetermined reference phase difference; and determine a reference signal compensation offset value based on the comparison of the phase difference and the predetermined reference phase difference. The phase-locked loop component can be configured to generate a phase-shifted signal wherein the phase shift is based on at least the reference signal compensation offset value.

Abstract: An RF generation system is provided for an electromagnetic cooking device having a cavity. The system includes: a signal generator for generating an input RF signal; an RF feed configured to introduce electromagnetic radiation into the cavity and to receive reflected electromagnetic radiation from the cavity; and a high-power amplifier coupled between the signal generator and the RF feed. The high-power amplifier including an amplifying stage configured to output a signal that is amplified in power, and a circulator for directing the amplified output signal to the RF feed and for redirecting any reflected radiation received from the RF feed to a dummy load. The system further includes a hardware protection component for detecting backward power in the reflected radiation and for reducing power supplied to the amplifying stage if the backward power exceeds a power threshold within a time scale that prevents damage to the circulator.

Abstract: An electromagnetic energy delivery system includes a set of radio frequency channels. Each channel includes a radio frequency feed, at least one high-power amplifier and a phase-shifting component. Each high-power radio frequency amplifier includes at least one amplifying component configured to output a periodic signal that is amplified in power with respect to an input radio frequency common reference signal. The phase-shifting component is configured to modulate the phase of the output periodic signal with respect to the input radio frequency signal. A controller coupled to the set of radio frequency channels can be configured to cause the output periodic signals from each of the radio frequency channels is to have a time-varying phase difference relative to the common reference signal and a phase difference relative to the other output periodic signals that is constant when averaged over time.

Abstract: An electromagnetic cooking device includes an enclosed cavity; a set of radio frequency feeds configured to introduce electromagnetic radiation into the enclosed cavity to heat up and prepare food; a set of high-power radio frequency amplifiers coupled to the set of radio frequency feeds, each high-power amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage configured to output a signal that is amplified in power with respect to an input radio frequency signal; a signal generator coupled to the set of high-power radio frequency amplifiers for generating the input radio frequency signal, and a controller. The controller can be configured to, among other things, cause the signal generator and selected ones of the set of high-power amplifiers to output a radio frequency signal, select from a set of phase values of radio frequency electromagnetic waves, and identify the resonant modes excited within the enclosed cavity.

Abstract: A power management system in electrical cooking appliances having at least two electrical heating elements wherein the power level of the elements can be set by a user but not exceed a predetermined power level. The power management system being able to compare the total level set by the user with the predetermined power level. The power management system also being able to downgrade the total level set by the user to a lower level which does not to exceed the predetermined level, independently of the set levels. The power management system being further able to selectively downgrade the heating element operating at the higher power level by a predefined step until the total power does not exceed the predetermined power level.

Abstract: A power management system in electrical cooking appliances comprising at least one electrical heating element the power level of which can be set by the user but must never exceed a predetermined power level, the system comprising means for comparing said set power level with the predetermined power level and for downgrading said level to a lower level such as not to exceed the predetermined level, independently of the set level.

Abstract: A method for sensing overheating of a food container positioned on a glass ceramic cooking hob, for example during the preparation of a food contained in said container, electrical heating elements being provided for predefined regions of said hob. The method includes continuously measuring the variation in temperature of the region of the cooking hob during the activation of a corresponding heating element on which the container is positioned on the hob. The method further includes halting said activation when said temperature undergoes a sudden increase relative to a temperature value maintained substantially constant with time during activation of the heating element.

Abstract: A device for sensing the presence of cooking utensils on a cooking hob comprising at least one heat source. The device includes an electrically conductive coil turn fed by the signal generated by an oscillator. The oscillator is preferably a voltage-controlled oscillator generating square wave signals. The coil turn operates, when utensil sensing occurs, to modify the cut-off frequency of a low pass filter (L/R) fed by said oscillator (VCO).

Abstract: A device for sensing the presence of cooking utensils on a cooking hob comprising at least one heat source. The device includes an electrically conductive coil turn fed by the signal generated by an oscillator. The oscillator is preferably a voltage-controlled oscillator generating square wave signals. The coil turn operates, when utensil sensing occurs, to modify the cut-off frequency of a low pass filter (L/R) fed by said oscillator (VCO).

Abstract: A method for sensing overheating of a food container positioned on a glass ceramic cooking hob, for example during the preparation of a food contained in said container, electrical heating elements being provided for predefined regions of said hob. The method includes continuously measuring the variation in temperature of the region of the cooking hob during the activation of a corresponding heating element on which the container is positioned on the hob. The method further includes halting said activation when said temperature undergoes a sudden increase relative to a temperature value maintained substantially constant with time during activation of the heating element.