The present invention related to devices and methods that use returned power (RP) measurements during microwave energy delivery to perform one or more functions. For example, microwave devices and systems with one or more features to measure the returned microwave power. One or more measurements of the returned microwave power may be used to obtain information about one or more of: antenna shape, system status and system performance. One or more measurements of the returned microwave power shaping elements may also be used to obtain information about one or more properties of the target material. The invention also discloses devices and methods for delivering microwave energy to a variety of target materials to achieve a variety of desired microwave effects.

A solid-state radio frequency (RF) microwave oven for an aircraft galley is dimensioned to fit the galley and includes within the oven cavity an array of RF modules disposed on the upper interior surface of the cavity. Each RF module includes one or more RF emitters programmable to heat meals placed within the oven cavity by emitting tunable RF signals. The RF modules may monitor the internal temperature and doneness of the food by detecting returned unabsorbed energy. An oven control module (OCM) may communicate with the aircraft galley network, selectively manage the activation and deactivation of RF modules depending on the food being cooked and its changing internal temperature, and tune emitted RF signals to avoid interference with aircraft communication systems. Compact heat sinks may be located within the rear of the oven cavity for the removal of excess energy from the oven.

A defrosting system includes an RF signal source, one or more electrodes proximate to a cavity within which a load to be defrosted is positioned, a transmission path between the RF signal source and the electrode(s), and an impedance matching network electrically coupled along the transmission path between the RF signal source output and the electrode(s). A system controller is configured to modify, based on the reflected signal power, values of variable passive components of the impedance matching network to reduce the reflected signal power. The system controller may be configured to estimate the mass of the load by comparing component value(s) of one or more variable passive components of the impedance matching network with a component value table stored in memory, where stored mass values correspond to the stored component values. Desired signal parameters for the RF signal may be determined based on the estimated mass of the load.

A solid state radio frequency generation system is provided for an electromagnetic cooking device having an enclosed cavity. The radio frequency generation system includes: an RF feed for introducing electromagnetic radiation into the cavity to heat a food load; a high-power RF amplifier coupled to the RF feed, the amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage configured to output a signal that is amplified in power with respect to an input RF signal; a small signal generator for supplying the input RF signal to the amplifier; and a switching power supply unit including a single DC-DC converter that converts AC mains power to low voltage DC for supply to the amplifier, and a controller configured to adapt an input current from the AC mains power to form a predefined periodic waveform with the same frequency as the AC mains power for supply to the small signal generator.

A method for calibrating a set of devices, each device including an amplifying component and a measuring component that outputs a digital signal indicative of radio frequency power detected at the amplifying component, includes selecting a frequency from a set of frequencies; selecting a phase value from a set of phase values; selecting a power level from a set of power levels; setting a subset of the set of devices to output signal of the selected frequency, the selected phase value and the selected power level; measuring a forward power level and a backward power level; processing the measurements of the forward and backward power levels to calibrate the digital signal output from the measuring component of each of the set of devices; and encoding the calibrated digital signal output into non-volatile memory.

Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for heating an object in a cavity by feeding the cavity with RF signals. One of the disclosed methods includes simultaneously feeding the cavity with at least two RF signals. Of the at least two RF signals, a first RF signal is fed to the cavity via a first antenna and a second RF signal is fed to the cavity via a second antenna. The first and second RF signals have a common frequency and differ in phase by a first phase difference. The method also includes measuring the first phase difference and adjusting the feeding based on measurements of reflected RF signals reflected from the cavity. Conducting the measurements of the reflected RF signals may also be part of the disclosed method. A disclosed apparatus includes the structure required for carrying out the above method.

Examples and techniques pertaining to avoidance of interference between wireless operation and microwave oven operation are described. A processor configures at least one of a magnetron of a microwave oven or a wireless transceiver of the microwave oven. The processor then controls operations of the magnetron and the wireless transceiver such that wireless communication by the wireless transceiver is not interfered by radiation from the magnetron as a result of the configuring.

The present invention relates to a medical preparation container which includes a microwave power sensor assembly. The microwave powered sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to measure a physical property or chemical property of a medical preparation during its heating in a microwave oven. The microwave powered sensor assembly is configured for harvesting energy from a microwave radiation emitted by the microwave oven and energize the sensor by the harvested microwave energy.

Examples and techniques pertaining to avoidance of interference between wireless operation and microwave oven operation are described. A processor configures at least one of a magnetron of a microwave oven or a wireless transceiver of the microwave oven. The processor then controls operations of the magnetron and the wireless transceiver such that wireless communication by the wireless transceiver is not interfered by radiation from the magnetron as a result of the configuring.

A radio frequency (RF) heating and defrosting apparatus may include an electrode which, when supplied with RF signal energy, may responsively radiate electromagnetic energy into a cavity of the RF heating and defrosting apparatus. This radiated electromagnetic energy may cause a thermal increase of a load in the cavity. A capacitor may be formed from a portion of the electrode and a conductive plate disposed adjacent to the electrode. The conductive plate may be coupled to a ground reference structure. Dielectric material(s) having a low dielectric constant may be disposed directly between the electrode and the conductive plate.