Capacitive Dielectric Heating Patents (Class 219/764)
  • Patent number: 11297695
    Abstract: A dielectric heating device is provided with two or more electrodes, a grounded surface connected to a first electrode, a signal source connected to a second electrode to output a high-frequency signal, a first element interposed serially between the signal source and second electrode, and a second element interposed serially between the grounded surface and first electrode. The first element includes two terminals that electrically connect the signal source and second electrode in a non-contact manner, to cause the high-frequency signal outputted from the signal source to pass through the first element, by using the electric coupling between the two terminals. The second element includes two terminals that electrically connect the grounded surface and first electrode in a non-contact manner, to output, by using the electric coupling between the two terminals, the high-frequency signal outputted from the signal source, to the grounded surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihito Hirai, Eigo Kuwata, Osamu Wada, Kazuhiro Iyomasa
  • Patent number: 9161394
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and a method of heating a load using microwaves is disclosed. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a cavity arranged to receive a load, a microwave generator, a transmission line arranged to transmit the generated microwaves to the cavity and a sensing device arranged to measure electromagnetic field strengths at different positions along the transmission line. The positions are selected such that the measured field strengths provide information about the phase of a reflection coefficient being representative of the ratio between the amount of microwaves reflected back towards the microwave generator and the amount of microwaves transmitted in the transmission line from the microwave generator. The microwave heating apparatus further comprises a control unit configured to control feeding of the microwaves to the cavity based on the measured field strengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson
  • Patent number: 8674274
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a material that is susceptible to RF heating by an RF antenna array. The apparatus includes a source of RF power connected to an antenna array having a plurality of loop antenna sections connected to each other by dipole antenna sections wherein the loop antenna sections and dipole antenna sections create a magnetic near field and an electric near field such that the ratio of magnetic field strength to electric field strength is approximately a predetermined value. Material is heated by the apparatus by placing the material in the near fields of the antenna array and creating magnetic near fields and electric near fields that approximate a ratio that is predetermined to efficiently heat the material and connecting the antenna array to an RF power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Francis Eugene Parsche
  • Patent number: 8481902
    Abstract: This invention is to eliminate all of the above-mentioned disadvantages by proposing a heating element intended to be deposited on a metal substrate, e.g., made of aluminium or an aluminium alloy, or even stainless steel, which is capable of delivering high outputs, in particular with a surface/output ratio possibly going as high as values on the order of 40 W/cm2, while at the same time maintaining good dielectric performance levels and/or being capable of delivering an even degree of heat over an entire surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: SEB SA
    Inventors: Stéphane Leboeuf, Laetitia Piguet
  • Patent number: 7964821
    Abstract: A window such as a vehicle window (e.g., windshield) has a de-icing feature. In certain example embodiments, a conductive structure is provided on an interior surface of a substrate of the window, AC tuned to an ice removal frequency is caused to run through the conductive structure, and fields generated by the AC passing through the conductive structure propagate through the substrate to an exterior surface of the window and can be absorbed by ice thereby causing the ice to melt and/or be removed from the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Vijayen S. Veerasamy, Daniel F Prone, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 7914886
    Abstract: A novel composite structural component including novel boron nitride agglomerated powders and a matrix is provided having controlled density and fracture strength features. In addition methods for producing the novel boron nitride agglomerated powders are provided. One method calls for providing a feedstock powder including boron nitride agglomerates, and heat treating the feedstock powder to form a heat treated boron nitride agglomerated powder. In one embodiment the feedstock powder has a controlled crystal size. In another, the feedstock powder is derived from a bulk source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene A. Pruss, Thomas M. Clere
  • Patent number: 7909079
    Abstract: A radio frequency welding system for flexible work pieces having a top-side and an underside. The welding system includes a fixed weld platform, a mobile radio frequency welder adapted to move over the fixed weld platform, movable welding electrodes configured over the fixed weld platform and adapted to engage the underside of the flexible work pieces and movable grounding apparatus adapted to engage the fixed weld platform and the mobile radio frequency welder so as to provide a return radio frequency electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: GMA Cover Corp.
    Inventor: Glenn Verkindt
  • Patent number: 7645968
    Abstract: A method is provided for securing a fluid meter to a fluid collection bag. The method includes the steps of providing a meter ha6 ving a housing defining a fluid receptacle and at least one drain opening, providing a collection bag defining a fluid reservoir and having at least one inlet opening and securing the meter to the bag using an RF welding device to allow fluid communication between the fluid receptacle and the fluid reservoir. In one embodiment, the housing includes a raised surface positioned about the at least one drain opening to which the collection bag is welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Lawrence Salvadori, Dennis Schreuer
  • Publication number: 20090071695
    Abstract: Novel boron nitride agglomerated powders are provided having controlled density and fracture strength features. In addition methods for producing same are provided. One method calls for providing a feedstock powder including boron nitride agglomerates, and heat treating the feedstock powder to form a heat treated boron nitride agglomerated powder. In one embodiment the feedstock powder has a controlled crystal size. In another, the feedstock powder is derived from a bulk source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene A. Pruss, Thomas M. Clere
  • Patent number: 7494635
    Abstract: Novel boron nitride agglomerated powders are provided having controlled density and fracture strength features. In addition methods for producing same are provided. One method calls for providing a feedstock powder including boron nitride agglomerates, and heat treating the feedstock powder to form a heat treated boron nitride agglomerated powder. In one embodiment the feedstock powder has a controlled crystal size. In another, the feedstock powder is derived from a bulk source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene A. Pruss, Thomas M. Clere
  • Publication number: 20080290088
    Abstract: This invention is to eliminate all of the above-mentioned disadvantages by proposing a heating element intended to be deposited on a metal substrate, e.g., made of aluminium or an aluminium alloy or even stainless steel, which is capable of delivering high outputs, in particular with a surface/output ratio possibly going as high as values on the order of 40 W/cm2, while at the same time maintaining good dielectric performance levels and/or being capable of delivering an even degree of heat over an entire surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Stephane Leboeuf, Laetitia Piguet
  • Patent number: 7326897
    Abstract: A clip on welder includes two pairs of opposed grippers defined by pivotally attached upper and lower frames for latching the welder to heat weldable material, such as a length of tubing, upon actuation of a start button by an operator; thereafter, the welder operates unattended. At least a jaw of a pair of jaws disposed intermediate the two pairs of grippers heats the material compressed and lodged therebetween to form a weld in or across the material. A source of gas, such as air, under pressure selectively connected to a bellows provides the power to pivot the upper and lower frames into gripping engagement with the material. A source of electrical signals provides the power to heat the material intermediate the pair of jaws. One or more thermocouples senses the heat of the jaws and generates signals used to control the application of power and to control cooling. After completion of the weld, cooling air is directed to the jaws until the thermocouple(s) signal(s) indicates a sufficiently low temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Engineering & Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph C. Jensen
  • Patent number: 7105789
    Abstract: An appliance for the control/equalization of electric and/or electromagnetic fields being below 900 MHz, where the field/s is/are not generated in a resonant cavity. The appliance includes a dielectric load placed in a dielectric material/s. An average dielectricity constant of this material/s, at applied frequency/ies, exceeds 20% of an average dielectricity constant of the load. Additionally, a loss factor of this material/s, at the applied frequency/ies, is below 75% of an average loss factor of the load. At least 20% of a surface of the load adjoins and is in contact with the mentioned dielectric material/s. In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention the load includes a bag/container of blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Lars S. E. Ekemar
  • Patent number: 6995345
    Abstract: An RF heating system for generating precision stray RF fields that can be used to heat materials. The RF heating system includes an RF power supply for generating RF signals and an electrode apparatus that is coupled to the RF power supply. An electrode apparatus according to the present invention has many advantages over existing electrode apparatuses. For example, the electrode apparatus is easier to manufacture, easier to duplicate, easier to control the manufacturing tolerances on the electrode system, and easier to correctly place and design the resulting RF stray field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Codaco, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy D. Gorbold
  • Patent number: 6812445
    Abstract: An RF heating system for generating precision stray RF fields that can be used to heat materials. The RF heating system includes an RF power supply for generating RF signals and an electrode apparatus that is coupled to the RF power supply. An electrode apparatus according to the present invention has many advantages over existing electrode apparatuses. For example, the electrode apparatus is easier to manufacture, easier to duplicate, easier to control the manufacturing tolerances on the electrode system, and easier to correctly place and design the resulting RF stray field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Codaco, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy D. Gorbold
  • Publication number: 20040108314
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heating apparatus which has an electrostatic adsorption function and which comprises at least a supporting substrate, an electrode for electrostatic adsorption formed on a surface of one side of the supporting substrate, a heating layer formed on a surface of the other side of the supporting substrate, and an insulating layer formed so that it may cover the electrode for electrostatic adsorption and the heating layer wherein a volume resistivity of the insulating layer is varied in a plane. Thus, there can be provided a heating apparatus which has an electrostatic adsorption function wherein uniformity of a temperature distribution in a plane of the wafer when the wafer is heated can be improved, and the wafer can be heat-treated uniformly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoji Kano, Kenji Satoh, Kenji Ito
  • Patent number: 6242726
    Abstract: An improved magnetic field stop. The field stop adjusts to allow different sizes of products to be passed through a microwave heating system. The field stop prevents undue radiation from escaping a heating chamber which is used in a microwave heating process for a variety of substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventors: George M. Harris, Peter Robicheau, Leonard J. Groves
  • Patent number: 5977532
    Abstract: According to a method for the heating of dielectric materials, the heat generation is done by oscillating electromagnetic radiation of one or more frequencies within the frequency range 300 kHz-299 MHz, preferably within the frequency range 1 MHz-299 MHz and best of all within the frequency range 12 MHz-200 MHz. In an apparatus for the heating of dielectric materials, preferably of organic nature, the heat is generated by oscillating electromagnetic radiation within the frequency range 300 kHz-299 MHz. The apparatus comprises a chamber (10) consisting of an upper wall (12), a bottom wall (11) and side walls (13, 14, 15, 16) made of electric conducting materials, which walls together with at least one generator (19) are connected to a common reference potential at which the generator (19) is arranged to feed at least one with the chamber cooperating antenna (17) in order to get the electromagnetic radiation in this chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Antrad System AB
    Inventor: Lars Sven Erling Ekemar
  • Patent number: 5371343
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heating cooking device including a heating chamber for heating an object to be heated, a high-frequency oscillator for generating high-frequency electromagnetic waves, a wave guide for guiding the high-frequency electromagnetic waves from the high-frequency oscillator to the heating chamber, a rotary table for supporting thereon the object to be heated for rotation therewith, and a wave stirrer fan for stirring the electromagnetic waves in the heating chamber. A feeder port of the wave guide is disposed at a side of the heating chamber, and the wave stirrer fan is disposed within the wave guide in opposed relation to the feeder port. The high-frequency oscillator is disposed on the side of the feeder port. The feeder port is larger in size than the wave stirrer fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Yoshimura, Toyotsugu Hatagawa, Yuji Hayakawa, Mitsuo Akiyoshi