Food preparation

• US 20090236333A1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joliet 2010 Limited
• Original Assignee: RF Dynamics Ltd.
• Inventors: Bilchinsky, Alexander, Rousso, Benny, Damari, Udi, Ben-Shmuel, Eran, Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Einav, Omer
• Granted Patent: US 10,080,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/702
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/01 using microwaves or dielectric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/26 by irradiation without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/363 the materials not being transported through or in the apparatus with or without shaping, e.g. in form of powder, granules, or flakes
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/365 Thawing subsequent to freezing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3435 Package specially adapted for defrosting the contents by microwave heating
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3447 Heat attenuators, blocking agents or heat insulators for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3487 Reflection, Absorption and Transmission [RAT] properties of the microwave reactive package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3491 attached to the side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3493 attached to the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/02 Refrigerators including a heater
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2600/06 Controlling according to a predetermined profile
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/005 Combined cooling and heating devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6402 Aspects relating to the microwave cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6435 Aspects relating to the user interface of the microwave heating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6447 Method of operation or details of the microwave heating apparatus related to the use of detectors or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/645 using temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6455 the sensors being infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/686 Circuits comprising a signal generator and power amplifier, e.g. using solid state oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/687 : for cooking
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/688 : for thawing
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/70 : Feed lines
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/705 : using microwave tuning
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/72 : Radiators or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/808 : Microwave heating adapted for vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 : Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

Devices and methods for RF heating of food, using techniques which allow uniformity and/or controlled non-uniformity.

Claims

1. An RF heater, comprising:

(a) a cavity for positioning an item;

(a) an RF heating element; and

(b) a controller configured to control said RF heating element so as to heat said item, said controller including at least two heating modes with different tradeoffs between speed of heating and uniformity of heating.

2. An RF heater according to claim 1, including a user interface for selecting which mode to use.

3. An RF heater according to claim 1, wherein said heating is performed while ensuring a maximum temperature below a safety threshold in at least part of said item.

4. An RF heater according to claim 1, wherein said heating is performed while ensuring a maximum temperature in at least part of said item, said maximum temperature being below a threshold temperature where increased evaporation occurs.

5. An RF heater according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to control said RF heating element to heat said item within 1 minute by at least 20 degrees Celsius, wherein said item has weight of at least 200 gr.

6. An RF heater according to claim 1, wherein said RF heating element is configured to provide power at a plurality of frequencies and said heater comprising a secondary heating element configured to be activated by only certain of said frequencies, said controller being adapted to determine which frequencies to use for said RF heating element thereby setting a time of operation of said secondary heating element.

7. An RF heater according to claim 6, wherein said controller is configured to control a frequency of said RF heating element according to said selected heating mode.

8. An RF heater according to claim 1, comprising a sensor for estimating at least one characteristic of said item, said controller being configured to control said RF heating element according to said estimation.

9. An RF heater according to claim 1, said controller being configured to control said RF heating element so as to perform frequency sweep for estimating at least one characteristic of said item, said controller being configured to control said RF heating element according to said estimation.

10. A method of heating an item according to a tradeoff, comprising:

(a) providing an item to be heated;

(b) allowing a user to select one of at least two heating modes each having a different tradeoff between speed of heating and uniformity of heating; and

(c) heating said item according to said heating mode.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said heating is performed by an RF heater while preventing heat damage to a user or the item, by said RF heater.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said heating includes thawing.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein said heating further comprises

(c1) heating said item using an RF heating oven;

(c2) receiving feedback on the heating process by the oven; and

(c3) automatically changing a heating parameter of the oven in response to said feedback.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said heating comprises tracking actual behavior of said item during said heating and adjusting said heating mode according to said actual behavior.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein each said heating mode defines at least two of freezing, thawing and cooking said item.

16. A method of heating an item according to a tradeoff, comprising:

(a) providing an item to be heated;

(b) automatically estimating at least one characteristic of said item;

(c) automatically selecting one of at least two heating modes according to said estimation; and

(d) heating said item according to said heating mode;

wherein each said heating mode has a different tradeoff between speed of heating and uniformity of heating.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said estimation is performed regardless of at least one of item shape, size, and composition.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein said estimating is performed according to an outcome of a frequency sweep.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein said estimating is performed using a temperature sensor.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein said heating further comprises

(d1) heating said item using an RF heating oven;

(d2) receiving feedback on the heating process by the oven; and

(d3) automatically changing a heating parameter of the oven in response to said feedback.