Automatic heating system and method

• US 10,070,485 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sebastian Thrun
• Original Assignee: Silicon Valley Factory LLC
• Inventors: Thrun, Sebastian, St. Martin, David, Kani, Arash
• Primary Examiner(s): Van, Quang
• Application Number:
  US15/489,465
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 219620-622, 219412-414, 219506, 219702, 219708, 219713, 219714, 219624, 219627, 219667, 99325-333, 99342, 99334, 99451, 426 19, 426273
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2213/06 Cook-top or cookware capable of communicating with each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/062 for cooking plates or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/12 Cooking devices

Abstract

In various embodiments, an apparatus includes a top portion, a bottom portion adapted to receive the top portion to define a space enclosed within the top portion and bottom portion, where the bottom portion includes a conductive structure, the conductive structure configured to receive electromagnetic energy from an EM source. The apparatus may also include an electronic tag configured to encode information about contents of the space. In various embodiments, a heating apparatus includes an electromagnetic (EM) source and a controller configured to: receive data associated with a heatable load, determine heating instructions based at least in part on the received data, and control the EM source based on the determined heating instructions.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a top portion; and

a bottom portion adapted to receive the top portion to define a space enclosed within the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion comprises;

a conductive structure configured to receive electromagnetic energy from an EM source;

a membrane below the conductive structure, the membrane adapted to provide controlled flow of moisture through the membrane and release of liquid into the enclosed space; and

an electronic tag configured to encode information about contents of the space, wherein the electronic tag is readable by a remote heating apparatus to heat the contents of the enclosed space.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive structure is inside the space enclosed within the top portion and the bottom portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is portable.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the space is adapted to store a heatable load.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be directly provided to a heating apparatus to heat contents inside the space enclosed within the top portion and the bottom portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the membrane provides controlled flow of moisture through the membrane during heating.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the released liquid is water.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pressure relief valve adapted to control pressure inside the space.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pressure relief valve adapted to control pressure inside the space, wherein the pressure relief valve is automatically deployed during a heating process when a threshold pressure is met.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pressure relief valve adapted to control pressure inside the space, wherein the pressure relief valve is deployed by a heating apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic tag encodes instructions to process contents of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic tag is an RFID.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the membrane is provided between the conductive structure and the electronic tag.