Abstract: A high frequency heating apparatus (1A) includes the following components: a first electrode (11) that is flat; a plurality of flat second electrodes (12) that are flat; a high-frequency power supply (20); a matching unit (30); a controller (40); and an electric field regulator (50). The second electrodes (12) are placed opposite to the first electrode (11). The high-frequency power supply (20) applies a high-frequency voltage to the first electrode (11). The matching unit (30) is placed between the first electrode (11) and the high-frequency power supply (20), and is impedance-matched with the high-frequency power supply (20). The controller (40) controls the high-frequency power supply (20). The electric field regulator (50) individually adjusts the electric field strengths in a plurality of regions located between first electrode (11) and the second electrodes (12). This aspect can reduce uneven heating.

Abstract: Provided are an analog-to-digital (AD) converter, a sensor processing circuit, and a sensor system capable of improving responsiveness of feedback control. AD converter includes input part, AD conversion part, first output part, and second output part. The analog signal output from sensor is input to input part. AD conversion part digitally converts an analog signal to generate first digital data and second digital data. First output part outputs the first digital data to control circuit. Second output part outputs the second digital data to sensor before first output part outputs the first digital data.

Abstract: A microwave treatment apparatus includes a treatment chamber, a microwave supply, and a resonator unit. The treatment chamber is surrounded by a plurality of walls, and accommodates a heating target. The microwave supply supplies a microwave to the treatment chamber. The resonator unit is provided on one wall of the plurality of walls, and the resonator unit has a resonance frequency in a frequency band of the microwave. In this embodiment, the impedance of the surface of the resonator unit can be changed by controlling the frequency of the microwave supplied to the treatment chamber. This makes it possible to control the standing wave distribution within the treatment chamber, that is, the microwave energy distribution within the treatment chamber. As a result, in the cases where a plurality of heating targets need to be heated simultaneously, desired dielectric heating is conducted for each of the heating targets.

Abstract: A microwave treatment device comprises: a heating chamber that accommodates a heating target, a microwave generator that generates a microwave; a feeding unit that supplies the microwave to the heating chamber; a reflected microwave power detector that detects a reflected microwave power returned to the microwave generator; a controller that controls the microwave generator; and a storage unit. The storage unit stores a level of the reflected microwave power detected by the reflected microwave power detector together with a frequency of the microwave supplied to the heating chamber and an elapsed time after a start of heating the heating target. The controller causes the microwave generator to execute a frequency sweep over a specified frequency band and determines that the heating target is in a boiling state based on a temporal change in a value that is obtained based on the reflected microwave power at each frequency.

Abstract: A microwave heating device includes a heating chamber that accommodates an object to be heated, a microwave generator configured to generate microwaves, a wave guide tube configured to guide the microwaves to the heating chamber, and an electromagnetic field distribution adjustment device that is provided in a two-dimensional region located in at least a part of a wall face within the heating chamber. The electromagnetic field distribution adjustment device has a plurality of metal pieces arranged to fill a predetermined two-dimensional region, and a switch provided between two metal pieces adjacent to each other among the plurality of metal pieces. The switch is connected to the two metal pieces adjacent to each other through two conductors each of which is provided on a corresponding one of the two metal pieces adjacent to each other, and smaller than the two metal pieces adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A microwave heating device includes a heating chamber that accommodates an object to be heated, a microwave generator configured to generate microwaves, a wave guide tube configured to guide the microwaves to the heating chamber, and an electromagnetic field distribution adjustment device provided in a predetermined two-dimensional region within the heating chamber. The electromagnetic field distribution adjustment device has a plurality of metal pieces and a plurality of switches. The plurality of metal pieces are arranged to fill the predetermined two-dimensional region. The plurality of switches connect the plurality of metal pieces with one another. A serially connected row of metal pieces is configured by connecting one metal piece among the plurality of metal pieces to at most two metal pieces adjacent to the one metal piece through at least two of the plurality of switches.

Abstract: A microwave treatment device comprises: a heating chamber that accommodates an object to be heated; a microwave generator that generates a microwave in a specified frequency band; an amplifier that amplifies the microwave; a feeding unit that supplies the amplified microwave to the heating chamber; a detector that detects a reflected microwave power; and a controller. The controller selects one of plural frequencies in the specified frequency band and causes the microwave generator to generate the microwave with the selected frequency. The controller causes the amplifier to change an output power of the microwave so that the microwave supplied to the heating chamber has one of plural output powers. The controller measures a reflected microwave frequency characteristic based on reflected microwave powers detected under each of a condition that the microwave has a first output power and a condition that the microwave has a second output power.

Abstract: A microwave treatment device of the present disclosure includes heating chamber (1) for accommodating object (2) to be heated, microwave generator (3), heater (7), power feeder (4), detector (5), and controller (6). Microwave generator (3) generates microwaves. Heater (7) includes a heat source other than the microwaves and heats an inside of heating chamber (1). Power feeder (4) supplies the heating chamber with the microwaves. Detector (5) detects reflected power from power feeder (4). Controller (6) controls heater (7) and microwave generator (3). When heater (7) carries out heating, Controller (6) causes microwave generator (3) to generate the microwaves in heating by heater (7). The microwaves have output power such that the reflected power at a level detectable by detector (5) returns. By present disclosure, by understanding progress of cooking, a heating target can be appropriately cooked.

Abstract: A high-frequency heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a heating chamber, an electrode, a high-frequency power supply, at least one matching element, and a controller. The heating chamber accommodates a heating target. The high-frequency power supply applies a high-frequency voltage to the electrode. The impedance matcher includes at least one matching element having a matching constant that is variable. The controller stops the high-frequency power supply to complete heating based on a temporal change of the matching constant of the at least one matching element. In this embodiment, a heating target can be heated efficiently.

Abstract: A microwave treatment device comprises a heating chamber for accommodating a heating target, a microwave generator, a feeder, a detector, and a controller. The microwave generator generates a microwave having a frequency in a specified frequency band. The feeder radiates the microwave inside the heating chamber. The detector detects a reflected microwave power reflected from the heating chamber. The controller causes the microwave generator to execute a frequency sweeping in the specified frequency band. The controller also controls the microwave generator according to a temporal change in a frequency characteristic of the reflected microwave power. The temporal change in the frequency characteristic of the reflected microwave power is based on the frequency of the microwave, a level of the reflected microwave power, and a time passed from a start of heating. In this aspect, it is possible to accurately recognizes the progress of cooking while heating the object.

Abstract: A high-frequency heating apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a first electrode (11), a second electrode (12), a high-frequency power supply (30), a position adjuster (20), a detector (50), and a controller (60). The second electrode (12) is disposed facing the first electrode. The high-frequency power supply (30) supplies a high-frequency power to the first electrode. The position adjuster (20) adjusts a distance between the first electrode (11) and the second electrode (12). The detector (50) detects a reflected power from the first electrode (11) toward the high-frequency power supply (30). The controller (60) controls the position adjuster (20) based on the reflected power. In this embodiment, a heating target can be heated efficiently.

Abstract: A high frequency heating apparatus of the present disclosure includes a first electrode (11), a second electrode (12), a high frequency power supply, a position adjuster (20), and a controller. The second electrode (12) is disposed facing the first electrode (11). The high frequency power supply supplies high frequency power to the first electrode (11) or the second electrode (12). The position adjuster (20) adjusts the position of the first electrode (11). The controller controls the position adjuster (20). The position adjuster (20) includes a weight (21), one or more connecting lines (22), one or more pulleys (23), and one or more drive units (24). The one or more connecting lines (22) connect the weight (21) and the first electrode (11). The one or more pulleys (23) support the one or more connecting lines (22). The one or more drive units (24) are attached to the one or more pulleys (23) and drive the one or more pulleys (23). In this embodiment, a heating target can be heated efficiently.

Abstract: A gas pressure detection device 10 detects a decrease in a pressure of gas of a gas balancer 8 of a robot 2. The gas pressure detection device 10 includes a calculating part configured to calculate a parameter Rt(?) indicating a magnitude relation between a reference pressure Pa(?) at a rotational angle ? of a rotary arm 14 and a measured pressure Pt(?) measured at the rotational angle ?, calculate a plurality of parameters Rt(?) based on a plurality of measured pressures Pt(?) at different measurement times, and calculate a moving average Rtj(?) of the parameter Rt(?) at a measurement time tj that is a j-th measurement time of the measured pressure Pt(?) (j representing a natural number of 2 or above), and a determining part configured to compare the moving average Rtj(?) with a reference value R to detect the decrease in the pressure of the gas.

Abstract: A rotating antenna (105a) includes: a ceiling surface (109) and a side-wall surface (110) that constitute a waveguide structure (108); and a horn (113) that radiates a microwave into a heating chamber. The rotating antenna (105a) further includes a flange (112) that is formed on a periphery of the side-wall surface (110) so as to face a bottom surface (111), which is an inner wall surface of the heating chamber, and so as to surround the side-wall surface (110). The flange (112) has choke sections (117) that reduce a leakage of the microwave. This configuration can generate a relatively low impedance region so as to surround the side-wall surface (110), thereby enhancing a leakage reducing performance of the rotating antenna (105a) and increasing directivity of the microwave radiated from the rotating antenna (105a).

Abstract: A high frequency heating apparatus (1A) includes the following components: a first electrode (11) that is flat; a plurality of flat second electrodes (12) that are flat; a high-frequency power supply (20); a matching unit (30); a controller (40); and an electric field regulator (50). The second electrodes (12) are placed opposite to the first electrode (11). The high-frequency power supply (20) applies a high-frequency voltage to the first electrode (11). The matching unit (30) is placed between the first electrode (11) and the high-frequency power supply (20), and is impedance-matched with the high-frequency power supply (20). The controller (40) controls the high-frequency power supply (20). The electric field regulator (50) individually adjusts the electric field strengths in a plurality of regions located between first electrode (11) and the second electrodes (12). This aspect can reduce uneven heating.

Abstract: The present invention includes a directional coupler that detects at least part of a reflected wave inside a waveguide. When an object to be heated is absent, a reflected wave is strong, because there is nothing to absorb a microwave. When the object is present, the reflected wave is weak, because the microwave is absorbed by the object. As a quantity of the object becomes greater, a larger amount of microwave is absorbed by the object, and thus the reflected wave is weakened. It is thus possible to determine the quantity of the object from a reflected wave detection amount detected by the directional coupler without using a detector that detects a load.

Abstract: The present invention has a configuration of controlling a motor so as to stop a radiation antenna when the radiation antenna faces in a direction in which a reflected wave detection amount is minimized and to stop the radiation antenna when the radiation antenna faces in a different direction different from the direction in which the reflected wave detection amount is minimized. According to this configuration, first, the radiation antenna stops when facing in the direction in which the reflected wave detection amount is minimized. This extends a heating time under the most efficient condition, improving a heating efficiency in comparison with when the radiation antenna constantly rotates. Second, the radiation antenna stops when facing in the different directions. This causes uneven heating when the radiation antenna faces in the direction in which the reflected wave detection amount is minimized as well as when the radiation antenna faces in the different directions.

Abstract: There are provided heating chamber, and reflection angle control device provided on upper wall configuring at least part of walls of heating chamber and configured to control a reflection angle of a microwave to control standing wave distribution in heating chamber. Reflection angle control device controls the reflection angle of the microwave when the microwave radiated from microwave radiation device is not directly absorbed into heating target but is reflected by the wall. Standing wave distribution in heating chamber can thus be controlled to be different from ordinary distribution for improvement in local heating performance.

Abstract: A microwave treatment apparatus includes a treatment chamber, a microwave supply, and a resonator unit. The treatment chamber is surrounded by a plurality of walls, and accommodates a heating target. The microwave supply supplies a microwave to the treatment chamber. The resonator unit is provided on one wall of the plurality of walls, and the resonator unit has a resonance frequency in a frequency band of the microwave. In this embodiment, the impedance of the surface of the resonator unit can be changed by controlling the frequency of the microwave supplied to the treatment chamber. This makes it possible to control the standing wave distribution within the treatment chamber, that is, the microwave energy distribution within the treatment chamber. As a result, in the cases where a plurality of heating targets need to be heated simultaneously, desired dielectric heating is conducted for each of the heating targets.

Abstract: A microwave heating device includes a heating chamber that accommodates an object to be heated, a microwave generator configured to generate microwaves, a wave guide tube configured to guide the microwaves to the heating chamber, and an electromagnetic field distribution adjustment device provided in a predetermined two-dimensional region within the heating chamber. The electromagnetic field distribution adjustment device has a plurality of metal pieces and a plurality of switches. The plurality of metal pieces are arranged to fill the predetermined two-dimensional region. The plurality of switches connect the plurality of metal pieces with one another. A serially connected row of metal pieces is configured by connecting one metal piece among the plurality of metal pieces to at most two metal pieces adjacent to the one metal piece through at least two of the plurality of switches.