Abstract: An appliance for heating seeds, nuts, grains and the like such as popcorn kernels, for example, by means of microwave radiation, comprising a bowl which is transparent to microwave energy and which has in its lower region an area of restricted size for holding unheated kernels in a clump, the area of the bowl above the restricted area being larger to allow heated kernels to expand, and means for concentrating the microwave energy upon the clump of kernels.

Abstract: A microwave oscillator is provided having electron emissive means and a first surrounding resonant structure. The first structure is fabricated of a material capable of emitting secondary electrons. A second resonant structure surrounds the secondary electron emitter and microwave energy is generated by the interaction between the electrons and currents induced in the structure. The high degree of isolation between the first oscillator section and the second amplifying section results in the generation of stable oscillations relatively free of effects of load variations.

Abstract: A microwave browning and searing utensil for microwave ovens is provided having a plurality of conductive metal members each folded in such a manner as to provide a continuous apex portion and two substantially equidistant adjacent legs spaced apart and defining two free ends. The legs are substantially one-quarter of a wavelength in height. The induced electric currents along the legs results in a total current excursion of one-half of a wavelength to establish a 180.degree. phase reversal plus and minus mode adjacent to the exposed ends. Planar microwaves radiated within an oven enclosure are converted by the array of conductive members to provide an intense fringing electric field 180.degree. out-of-phase in close proximity to the material being heated. The fringing electric fields decay exponentially a short distance away from the exposed ends.

Abstract: A microwave browning plate utilizing members of a relatively low dielectric constant material is provided having a conductive coating on three sides with a load supported on the uncoated side. The induced currents in the conductive material provides for current induced in the dielectric material. An exponentially decreasing fringing electric field is provided as a standing wave adjacent to the uncoated side. A low dielectric constant material may be utilized with the conductive coating and an overall height of one-quarter of a wavelength will result in a thinner microwave plate. Means are provided for restricting the current flow to a desired mode.

Abstract: Solid state spaced-oriented means convert solar radiation into microwave energy which is amplified and beamed to earth as a source of electrical power. A large number of semiconductor devices operating in the current multiplication region are irradiated by single mode coherent light beam generation means which is pumped by solar energy. A neodymium yittrium aluminum iron garnet laser or CW gallium arsenide junction diode laser mode-locked at a predetermined microwave frequency, such as 3,000 MHz provide for generation of a light beam. The generated current is directly proportional to the radiant energy and is coupled from the semiconductor device array to antenna means for transmission to earth stations for conversion into low frequency electrical energy.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for heating with microwave energy utilizing nonresonant means for converting and transforming free space plane waves within the oven enclosure into fringing electric field patterns to brown or sear the load surfaces similar to broiling. One embodiment comprises parallel abutting plates with alternate plates of a high dielectric constant material to provide a predetermined phase lag and with the intervening low dielectric constant sections to provide alternating fringing electric fields, illustratively, in the pi or any other desired mode pattern. Alternate embodiments include microwave strip transmission lines comprising conductive strips separated by a dielectric substrate to couple and convert the free space waves into the desired heating mode pattern. A load supporting shelf within the microwave oven may be readily adapted to include the alternating dielectric materials to provide the desired fringing electric field patterns.