Temperature control device

• US 20080149624A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tamura, Hikaru
• Granted Patent: US 8,759,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/685
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6402 Aspects relating to the microwave cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/645 using temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/66 Circuits

Abstract

A temperature control device which can control the temperature of an object to be processed even after supply of radio waves or electromagnetic waves from a high-frequency heating apparatus is stopped. The temperature control device includes a temperature sensor detecting the temperature of the object to be processed heated by radio waves generated from the high-frequency heating apparatus, a signal processing circuit comparing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor with a standard temperature, a rechargeable battery charged by electric energy generated by reception of the radio waves by an antenna, a charging circuit controlling charging of the rechargeable battery, and a heater supplied with electric power from the rechargeable battery to heat the object to be processed so that the temperature thereof gets closer to the standard temperature, in accordance with a comparison result by the signal processing circuit.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a tableware;

an antenna attached to the tableware and receiving a radio wave;

a rechargeable battery attached to the tableware and charged by electric energy generated by the radio wave; and

a heater attached to the tableware and operationally connected to the battery for heating the food.

2. The article according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the food.

3. The article according to claim 2, further comprising a signal processing circuit configured to compare the temperature of the object detected by the temperature sensor with a standard temperature.

4. The article according to claim 1, wherein the tableware is one selected from the group consisting of a plate, a bowl, a lunchbox, and a container.

5. The article according to claim 1,

wherein the battery is charged by the electric power generated by the radio wave received by the antenna,

wherein the heater is supplied with electric power from the rechargeable battery.

6. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heater.

7. A temperature control device comprising:

a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of an object heated by a radio wave generated from a high-frequency device;

a signal processing circuit configured to compare the temperature of the subject detected by the temperature sensor with a standard temperature;

a rechargeable battery charged by electric energy generated by the radio wave received by an antenna;

a charging circuit configured to control charging of the rechargeable battery; and

a heater heating the object in accordance with a comparison result by the signal processing circuit,

wherein the heater is supplied with electric power from the rechargeable battery.

8. The temperature control device according to claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heater.

9. A temperature control device comprising:

a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of an object heated by a radio wave generated from a high-frequency device;

a signal processing circuit configured to compare the temperature of the object detected by the temperature sensor with a standard temperature;

an antenna generating electric energy by reception of the radio wave;

a rechargeable battery charged by the electric energy;

a charging circuit configured to control charging of the rechargeable battery; and

a heater heating the object in accordance with a comparison result by the signal processing circuit,

wherein the heater is supplied with electric power from the rechargeable battery.

10. The temperature control device according to claim 9, wherein the temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heater.

11. A temperature control device comprising:

a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of an object heated by a radio wave generated from a high-frequency device;

a signal processing circuit configured to compare the temperature of the object detected by the temperature sensor with a standard temperature;

a rechargeable battery charged by electric energy generated by the radio wave received by an antenna;

a charging circuit configured to control charging of the rechargeable battery;

a heater heating the object in accordance with a comparison result by the signal processing circuit;

a first protective material covering the signal processing circuit, the rechargeable battery, and the charging circuit; and

a second protective material covering the signal processing circuit, the rechargeable battery, the charging circuit, the temperature sensor, and the heater,

wherein the heater is supplied with electric power from the rechargeable battery.

12. The temperature control device according to claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heater.

13. The temperature control device according to claim 11, wherein the first protective material comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a carbon material, a ferrite material, or a carbonyl iron material mixed into a synthetic rubber.

14. The temperature control device according to claim 11, wherein the first protective material comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a carbon material, a ferrite material, or a carbonyl iron material mixed into an urethane.

15. The temperature control device according to claim 11, wherein the second protective material comprises one of a synthetic resin or ceramic.

16. The temperature control device according to claim 11, wherein a thickness of a first layer formed of the first protective material is thicker than a thickness of a second layer formed of the second protective material.

17. A temperature control device comprising:

a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of an object heated by a radio wave generated from a high-frequency device;

a signal processing circuit configured to compare the temperature of the object detected by the temperature sensor with a standard temperature;

an antenna generating electric energy by reception of the radio wave;

a rechargeable battery charged by the electric energy;

a charging circuit configured to control charging of the rechargeable battery;

a heater heating the object in accordance with a comparison result by the signal processing circuit;

a first protective material covering the signal processing circuit, the rechargeable battery, and the charging circuit; and

a second protective material covering the signal processing circuit, the chargeable battery, the charging circuit, the temperature sensor, the heater, and the antenna,

wherein the heater is supplied with electric power from the rechargeable battery.

18. The temperature control device according to claim 17, wherein the temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heater.

19. The temperature control device according to claim 17, wherein the first protective material comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a carbon material, a ferrite material, or a carbonyl iron material mixed into a synthetic rubber.

20. The temperature control device according to claim 17, wherein the first protective material comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a carbon material, a ferrite material, or a carbonyl iron material mixed into urethane.

21. The temperature control device according to claim 17, wherein the second protective material comprises one of a synthetic resin or ceramic.

22. The temperature control device according to claim 17, wherein a thickness of a first layer formed of the first protective material is thicker than a thickness of a second layer formed of the second protective material.