An inductor assembly includes a fixture element having a central core and support structures coupled to and projecting outwardly from the central core, each of the support structures having an outer edge with a notched profile of indentations extending toward the central core, and a helical inductor having multiple turns, the turns being seated in the indentations of the at least two support structures. The support structures may be equidistantly spaced apart from one another about the central core by air gaps. The inductor assembly may be incorporated in an impedance matching network, and one or more impedance matching networks may be incorporated in a defrosting system. The impedance matching network may be a single-ended network or a double-ended network.

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.

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.

An embodiment of a heating system includes a cavity configured to contain a load, a thermal heating system (e.g., a convection, radiant, and/or gas heating system) in fluid communication with the cavity and configured to heat air, and an RF heating system. The RF heating system includes an RF signal source configured to generate an RF signal, first and second electrodes positioned across the cavity and capacitively coupled, a transmission path electrically coupled between the RF signal source and one or more of the first and second electrodes, and a variable impedance matching network electrically coupled along the transmission path between the RF signal source and the one or more electrodes. At least one of the first and second electrodes receives the RF signal and converts the RF signal into electromagnetic energy that is radiated into the cavity.

A thermal increase system may include first and second cavities disposed on opposite sides of a first electrode. The first cavity may have a first height that is approximately equal to a second height of the second cavity. The first electrode may be disposed within a containment structure that is capacitively coupled to the first electrode. An upper wall of the containment structure may include a second electrode that is capacitively coupled to the first electrode. A bottom wall of the containment structure may include a third electrode that is capacitively coupled to the first electrode. The first electrode may receive the RF signal from an RF signal source, which may cause electric field magnitudes within the first and second cavities to increase, which may increase the temperature of loads disposed within the first and/or second cavities.

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.

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.

A system is configured to perform an operation that results in increasing a thermal energy of a load. The system includes a radio frequency signal source configured to supply a radio frequency signal, an electrode coupled to the radio frequency signal source, and a variable impedance network that includes at least one variable passive component. The variable impedance network is coupled between the radio frequency signal source and the electrode. The system includes a controller configured to determine an operation duration based upon a configuration of the variable impedance network, and to cause the radio frequency signal source to supply the radio frequency signal for the operation duration.

A system is configured to perform an operation that results in increasing a thermal energy of a load. The system includes a radio frequency signal source configured to supply a radio frequency signal, an electrode coupled to the radio frequency signal source, and a variable impedance network that includes at least one variable passive component. The variable impedance network is coupled between the radio frequency signal source and the electrode. The system includes a controller configured to determine an operation duration based upon a configuration of the variable impedance network, and to cause the radio frequency signal source to supply the radio frequency signal for the operation duration.

Provided are a control method for a heating unit, the heating unit, and a refrigerating and freezing apparatus. The control method includes: acquiring a forward power signal output from an electromagnetic wave generation module and a reverse power signal returned to the electromagnetic wave generation module; calculating an electromagnetic wave absorption rate of an item to be treated according to the forward power signal and the reverse power signal; and adjusting a rotation speed of a cooling fan according to a power value of the forward power signal and the electromagnetic wave absorption rate. By comparing the means of adjusting, according to the power value of the forward power signal output from the electromagnetic wave generation module and the electromagnetic wave absorption rate of the item to be treated, the rotation speed of the cooling fan for cooling the electromagnetic wave generation module with the means of adjusting the rotation speed of the cooling fan according to the temperature of the electromagnetic wave generation module, there is no need to dispose additional temperature sensing apparatuses, heat generated by the electromagnetic wave generation module can be reflected more precisely, and unexpected energy waste and noise pollution are avoided while fully cooling the electromagnetic wave generation module.