High-Frequency Heating Device

• US 20090001074A1
• Filed: 01/09/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Moriya, Hideaki, Sakai, Shinichi, Suenaga, Haruo, Shirokawa, Nobuo, Kinoshita, Manabu
• Granted Patent: US 8,324,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/721
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2206/043 Methods or circuits intended to extend the life of the magnetron
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/666 Safety circuits emergency protective circuits in general H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/683 the measurements being made at the high voltage side of the circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/685 the measurements being made at the low voltage side of the circuit

Abstract

To attain a more reliable prevention of an electric shock by checking whether the earth states for two circuit boards are good. There is detected a voltage generated at an anode current sensing resistor 20 inserted into a path where the anode current of a magnetron 8 flows and a signal is transmitted to a microcomputer 27. The microcomputer 27 uses a selector switch 28 to determine the earth states for an inverter circuit board and a control panel circuit board before operation of a device. In case either one or both of the circuit boards are in a floating state, operation of a high-frequency heating device is inhibited. Otherwise, operation of the high-frequency heating device is permitted.

Claims

1. A high-frequency heating device comprising:

an inverter for rectifying an AC power and converting the AC power to a high-frequency power;

a boosting transformer for boosting a high-frequency power outputted from said inverter;

a high-voltage circuit for converting the output of said boosting transformer to a high DC voltage;

a magnetron for receiving said high DC voltage and irradiating a microwave;

a first current sensing resistor provided on a first path where the anode current of said magnetron flows, said first current sensing resistor detecting the anode current and being connected to the earth of a first circuit board on which at least said high-voltage circuit is arranged;

a second current sensing resistor separated from said first current sensing resistor, said second current sensing resistor provided on a second path connected to said first path while branching therefrom and connected to the earth of a second circuit board as a substrate for a control panel the user touches for operation; and

a controller for controlling the oscillation of said magnetron by controlling said inverter;

wherein the controller applies a predetermined voltage to said first current sensing resistor and said second current sensing resistor while said inverter is not operating to determine the earth states for said first circuit board and said second circuit board, and makes control to inhibit start of operation of said inverter assuming an abnormality when determining that at least one of the earths is imperfect and to permit start of operation of said inverter when detecting that neither the earth state for said first circuit board nor the earth state for said second circuit board is imperfect.

2. The high-frequency heating device according to claim 1, wherein said controller checks the earth states for said first circuit board and said second circuit board in a predetermined cycle even while said inverter and said magnetron are operating.

3. The high-frequency heating device according to claim 1, wherein said second path is connected to a power potential generating said predetermined voltage and includes a selector switch connected between said power potential and said second current sensing resistor,

said second path connects said power potential to said first path by turning on said selector switch, and

said controller determines the earth states for said first circuit board and said second circuit board assuming a voltage obtained by said second current sensing resistor as said voltage value.

4. The high-frequency heating device according to claim 3, wherein said controller include an input terminal connected to said first path for detecting said voltage value and an output terminal arranged between said second current sensing resistor and said selector switch.

5. The high-frequency heating device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of resistor elements connected to a subsequent stage of said first current sensing resistor, connected to the earth of said second circuit board and connected parallel to each other.

6. The high-frequency heating device according to claim 1, further comprising a diode connected to a subsequent stage of said first current sensing resistor and connected to the earth of said second circuit board.

7. The high-frequency heating device according to claim 2, wherein said second path is connected to a power potential generating said predetermined voltage and includes a selector switch connected between said power potential and said second current sensing resistor,

said second path connects said power potential to said first path by turning on said selector switch, and

said controller determines the earth states for said first circuit board and said second circuit board assuming a voltage obtained by said second current sensing resistor as said voltage value.

8. The high-frequency heating device according to claim 7, wherein said controller include an input terminal connected to said first path for detecting said voltage value and an output terminal arranged between said second current sensing resistor and said selector switch.