Microwave impedance matching film for microwave cooking
First Claim
1. A package for storing and microwave heating food comprising:
- (a) a package body substantially transparent to microwave energy forming a food receiving cavity including a bottom panel and a top panel with side panels joining said bottom panel with said top panel; and
(b) impedance matching means provided on a surface of at least one of said bottom panel, top panel and side panels for impedance matching microwave energy entering the package, said impedance matching means comprising a contiguous film of flakes embedded in a dielectric binder wherein said impedance matching means is sized and spaced with respect to the food to cause impedance matching to elevate the temperature of the food by increasing the amount of microwave energy directed to the food in at least a predetermined area thereof dependent upon the size and spacing of said film without interacting with the microwave energy to produce heat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A food package including a package body forming a food receiving cavity for storing and heating a food item in a microwave oven. Specifically, the package body includes a bottom panel and a top panel with side panels joining the bottom and top panel. An impedance matching element is provided on at least one of the panels for impedance matching microwave energy entering the package. The impedance matching element is preferably a contiguous film of thinly flaked material embedded in a dielectric binder which is sized and shaped with respect to the food to cause impedance matching to elevate the temperature of the food in predetermined areas dependent upon the size and spacing of the film without interacting with the microwave energy to produce heat. The film may also be shaped in the form of a convex lens to direct impedance matched microwave energy toward the food to elevate the temperature of the food in a predetermined area. Further, the flake material may be present in the binder in an amount sufficient to provide microwave shielding.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A package for storing and microwave heating food comprising:
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(a) a package body substantially transparent to microwave energy forming a food receiving cavity including a bottom panel and a top panel with side panels joining said bottom panel with said top panel; and (b) impedance matching means provided on a surface of at least one of said bottom panel, top panel and side panels for impedance matching microwave energy entering the package, said impedance matching means comprising a contiguous film of flakes embedded in a dielectric binder wherein said impedance matching means is sized and spaced with respect to the food to cause impedance matching to elevate the temperature of the food by increasing the amount of microwave energy directed to the food in at least a predetermined area thereof dependent upon the size and spacing of said film without interacting with the microwave energy to produce heat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A package for storing and microwave heating food comprising:
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(a) a package body substantially transparent to microwave energy forming a food receiving cavity including a bottom panel and a top panel with side panels joining said bottom panel with said top panel; and (b) impedance matching means provided on an extended surface of at least one of said panels for impedance matching microwave energy entering the package, wherein said impedance matching means is convex such that the center thereof has a thickness greater than the thickness at the periphery thereof to focus impedance matched microwave energy toward the food to elevate the temperature of the food by increasing the amount of microwave energy directed to the food in an area corresponding to the size of the impedance matching means and spacing of said impedance matching means from the food without interacting with the microwave energy to produce heat wherein said impedance matching means comprises a continuous film of generally planar flakes embedded in a dielectric binder. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A composite material for impedance matching microwave energy without interacting with the microwave energy to produce heat comprising:
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(a) a substrate substantially transparent to microwave energy; and (b) impedance matching means provided on at least a portion of the substrate for impedance matching microwave energy, said impedance matching means comprising a contiguous film of generally planar flakes embedded in a dielectric binder wherein said flakes comprise aluminum having a longest average dimension within the range of about 8-75 micrometers and a thickness within the range of about 100-500 Å
. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A composite material for shielding a food item from microwave energy positioned proximate thereto comprising:
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(a) a substrate substantially transparent to microwave energy; and (b) a shielding means provided on at least a portion of the substrate for reducing the amount of microwave energy reaching a food item positioned proximate thereto, said shielding means comprising a contiguous film of generally planar flakes embedded in a dielectric binder in an amount sufficient to reduce microwave energy reaching the food item when said composite material is positioned proximate thereto wherein said flakes comprise aluminum having a longest average dimension within the range of about 8-75 micrometers and a thickness within the range of about 100-500 Å
. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A package for storing and microwave heating food comprising:
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(a) a package body substantially transparent to microwave energy forming a food receiving cavity including a bottom panel and a top panel with side panels joining said bottom panel with said top panel; and (b) impedance matching means provided on a surface of at least one of said bottom panel, top panel and side panels for impedance matching microwave energy entering the package, said impedance matching means comprising a contiguous film of flakes embedded in a dielectric binder wherein said impedance matching means is sized and spaced with respect to the food to cause impedance matching to elevate the temperature of the food by increasing the amount of microwave energy directed to the food in at least a predetermined area thereof dependent upon the size and spacing of said film, wherein said flakes are generally planar having a longest average dimension within the range of about 8-75 micrometers and a thickness within the range of about 100-500 Å
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Specification