Radio frequency (RF) induction cooking food heater
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H05B-006/12
H05B-006/64
출원번호
UP-0738174
(2007-04-20)
등록번호
US-7829827
(2010-11-25)
발명자
/ 주소
Rosenbloom, Richard H.
Thompson, Leslie L.
Teachout, Brian Louis
Paull, Ian Alan
출원인 / 주소
Ameritherm, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
3인용 특허 :
6
초록
In one aspect, the present invention provides a consumer appliance that uses RF energy to heat foods stored in a container that is suitable for RF heating.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A system that uses radio-frequency induction heating to heat food stored in a container, the system comprising: a housing, said housing being of a size, shape and weight such that the housing can easily sit on most kitchen countertops; a cavity formed in a door of the housing
What is claimed is: 1. A system that uses radio-frequency induction heating to heat food stored in a container, the system comprising: a housing, said housing being of a size, shape and weight such that the housing can easily sit on most kitchen countertops; a cavity formed in a door of the housing, the cavity being configured to receive a container and the door being moveable between an open position in which the cavity is accessible to a user of the system and a closed position in which the cavity is not accessible to the user; an RF induction heating element housed in the door and configured to provide RF energy to a container placed in the cavity; and an RF power generator housed in the housing and coupled to the RF induction heating element. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a programmable controller for controlling the amount of RF energy provided to the container. 3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a safety means for decreasing the likelihood the container will overheat when RF energy is provided to the container. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the food stored in the container consists of coffee, hot chocolate, tea, or soup. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising temperature sensing means. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to limit power output by the RF power generator in response to determining that a temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means meets and/or exceeds a predetermined limit. 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a controller coupled to the temperature sensing means and the RF power generator; and a weight measuring device coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to (i) determine whether the weight of the object falls within a predetermined weight range and (ii) prevent the RF power generator from providing power to the heating element if it is determined that the weight of the object does not fall within the predetermined weight range regardless of whether the container is magnetic or non-magnetic. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the door is configured to pivot between the open position and the closed position. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the door is slideable between its open and closed position. 10. A method for heating food stored in a container, the method comprising: obtaining an appliance that uses radio-frequency induction heating to heat food stored in a container, wherein the appliance comprises: a housing, said housing being of a size, shape and weight such that the housing can easily sit on most kitchen countertops; a cavity formed in a door of the housing, the cavity being configured to receive a container and the door being moveable between an open position in which the cavity is accessible to a user of the appliance and a closed position in which the cavity is not accessible to the user; an RF induction heating element housed in the door and configured to generate an electrical and/or magnetic field when provided with an alternating current; placing the appliance on a countertop; plugging the appliance into a standard electronic power outlet; obtaining a container containing food; manually placing the container into the cavity; after placing the container into the cavity, receiving an indication from the appliance that the appliance is finished heating the food; and manually removing the container from the cavity in response to receiving the indication. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising instructing the appliance to heat the container after placing the container into the cavity. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the act of instructing the appliance to heat the container comprises activating a user interface element that is disposed on an outer surface of the housing. 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising covering the cavity with the lid after placing the container into the cavity. 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the appliance further comprises a lid for covering the cavity; and a temperature sensor disposed on the lid such that the temperature sensor is operable to sense the temperature of a container disposed in the cavity when the lid covers the cavity. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the door is configured to pivot between the open position and the closed position. 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the door is slideable between its open and closed position. 17. An appliance for heating food stored in a container using a radio-frequency induction heating element, comprising: a housing; a cavity formed in a door of the housing, the cavity being configured to receive a container and the door being moveable between an open position in which the cavity is accessible to a user of the appliance and a closed position in which the cavity is not accessible to the user; a radio-frequency induction heating element housed in the door; a controller configured to control the amount of power provided to the induction heating element; and a weight measuring means configured to provide to the controller data corresponding to the weight of a container received by the cavity. 18. The appliance of claim 17, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the temperature sensor is operable to provide to the controller data corresponding to a temperature of a container received by the cavity. 19. The appliance of claim 17, further comprising an optical reader coupled to the controller, wherein the optical reader is operable to provide to the controller data corresponding to indicia disposed on a container received by the cavity. 20. The appliance of claim 19, wherein the optical reader is bar code reader and the indicia is a bar code. 21. The appliance of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured such that if the data indicates that the weight of the container does not fall within a predetermined weight range, the controller will prevent power from being provided to the heating element regardless of whether the container is magnetic or non-magnetic. 22. The appliance of claim 17, wherein the door is configured to pivot between the open position and the closed position. 23. The appliance of claim 17, wherein the door is slideable between its open and closed position.
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