A method of heating a load in a cavity of an apparatus for heating objects by transmitting to the cavity electromagnetic waves may include determining, for each of a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs), a dissipation ratio indicating a proportion of power dissipated in the load to power transmitted into the cavity, wherein each MSE is a set of one or more values of variables, each controllable by the apparatus, that affect a field pattern excited in the cavity. The method may further include selecting one or more MSEs from the plurality of MSEs based on the dissipation ratio determined for each of the plurality of MSEs, wherein each of the selected one or more MSSEs is associated with a corresponding dissipation ratio that is lower than a threshold and applying RF energy to the load at the selected one or more frequencies.

A method of heating a load in a cavity of an apparatus for heating objects by transmitting to the cavity electromagnetic waves may include determining, for each of a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs), a dissipation ratio indicating a proportion of power dissipated in the load to power transmitted into the cavity, wherein each MSE is a set of one or more values of variables, each controllable by the apparatus, that affect a field pattern excited in the cavity. The method may further include selecting one or more MSEs from the plurality of MSEs based on the dissipation ratio determined for each of the plurality of MSEs, wherein each of the selected one or more MSSEs is associated with a corresponding dissipation ratio that is lower than a threshold and applying RF energy to the load at the selected one or more frequencies.

A cooking appliance apparatus includes at least one current supply line, and at least one current sensor unit configured to measure a high-frequency current in the at least one current supply line. The at least one current sensor has a first sensor inductance, at least one second sensor inductance, and at least one conduction path, which connects the first sensor inductance to the at least one second sensor inductance in an electrically conducting manner.

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.

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.

A method for accelerating an oxidation rate of food comprises the following steps: providing a food; sensing an oxidation state of the food by a sensing unit; generating a sensing signal by the sensing unit; retrieving a digital signal of a spectrum waveform from a database according to the sensing signal; and transmitting a millimeter-wave analog signal to the food according to the digital signal of the spectrum waveform, where the millimeter-wave analog signal comprises first frequency signals and second frequency signals, and the first frequency signals and the second frequency signals are alternately arranged, and the first and second frequency signals comprise sinusoidal waveforms.

A method for accelerating an oxidation rate of food comprises the following steps: providing a food; sensing an oxidation state of the food by a sensing unit; generating a sensing signal by the sensing unit; retrieving a digital signal of a spectrum waveform from a database according to the sensing signal; and transmitting a millimeter-wave analog signal to the food according to the digital signal of the spectrum waveform, where the millimeter-wave analog signal comprises first frequency signals and second frequency signals, and the first frequency signals and the second frequency signals are alternately arranged, and the first and second frequency signals comprise sinusoidal waveforms.

The present invention comprises a precision cooking oven that utilizes laser sheets to cook food, thus creating homogeneously heated and uniformly seared food bodies and surfaces. Laser sheets move back and forth evenly injecting heat into items being cooked. All food cold or hot areas can be eliminated since intersecting laser lines can be completely projected on and accommodate an item's exterior surfaces. Items with non-uniform cross-sections and properties can be cooked uniformly by controlling the exact amount of energy projected into differing sections of the food. The oven is also capable of cooking autonomously. Since laser sheets can be precisely controlled, cooking results can be very predictable once the boundary conditions for a thermal analysis are determined. The oven can detect the properties of the items to be cooked and thereafter compute the needed time and power to achieve the desired results stipulated by an oven operator.

Methods of powering a heat engine with a remote lasers are disclosed, where the ambient air surrounding the engine is used as the working fluid. All methods include inputting the ambient air into the engine, absorbing laser optical radiation, turning it into heat, supplying the heat to the air, harvesting mechanical work from expanding air and releasing the air back into surrounding atmosphere.

Methods of powering a heat engine with a remote lasers are disclosed, where the ambient air surrounding the engine is used as the working fluid. All methods include inputting the ambient air into the engine, absorbing laser optical radiation, turning it into heat, supplying the heat to the air, harvesting mechanical work from expanding air and releasing the air back into surrounding atmosphere.