Radio frequency antenna for heating devices
First Claim
1. An induction heating system comprising:
- a component for generating a magnetic field in order to inductively heat an object, said component presenting a heating hob, said magnetic field creating a magnetic flux zone through the heating hob;
control circuitry operably coupled with said field generating component in order to control the operation of the component, including an RFID tag reader and an antenna coupled with the RFID tag reader in order to interrogate a proximal RFID tag associated with said object, and to receive information from said RFID tag,said antenna including a plurality of continuous, conductive antenna loops oriented to cooperatively and substantially surround said heating hob,each of said antenna loops having an inner section proximal to said heating hob and defining a respective, enclosed RF communication region outboard of said inner antenna loop section, said RF communication regions cooperatively defining a substantially continuous RF communication zone located in outwardly spaced relationship from said magnetic flux zone and disposed about the heating hob; and
circuitry including at least two conductive paths coupled with said RFID tag reader,said plurality of antenna loops each having one terminal end connected to at least one of said conductive paths, and having a second terminal end connected to at least one other of said conductive paths, in order to operably couple the RFID tag reader with said antenna, the spacing between said magnetic flux zone and said RF communication zone permitting very little penetration of magnetic flux into the RF communication zone.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved antenna assembly (66) designed to maintain RF communication between an object (22, 64, 148) to be heated, and a heating assembly (20, 60) such as an induction heater having a hob (34) equipped with an induction work coil (36). The antenna assembly (66) provides substantially continuous RF communication about the entirety of the hob (34), so that the object (22, 64, 148) can be rotated through substantially 360° , or displaced radially, without loss of RF communication. The preferred antenna assembly (66) includes an antenna (67) mounted upon a substrate (68) and presenting a plurality of continuous, conductive antenna loops (70, 72) oriented to cooperatively and substantially surround the hob (34).
22 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An induction heating system comprising:
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a component for generating a magnetic field in order to inductively heat an object, said component presenting a heating hob, said magnetic field creating a magnetic flux zone through the heating hob; control circuitry operably coupled with said field generating component in order to control the operation of the component, including an RFID tag reader and an antenna coupled with the RFID tag reader in order to interrogate a proximal RFID tag associated with said object, and to receive information from said RFID tag, said antenna including a plurality of continuous, conductive antenna loops oriented to cooperatively and substantially surround said heating hob, each of said antenna loops having an inner section proximal to said heating hob and defining a respective, enclosed RF communication region outboard of said inner antenna loop section, said RF communication regions cooperatively defining a substantially continuous RF communication zone located in outwardly spaced relationship from said magnetic flux zone and disposed about the heating hob; and circuitry including at least two conductive paths coupled with said RFID tag reader, said plurality of antenna loops each having one terminal end connected to at least one of said conductive paths, and having a second terminal end connected to at least one other of said conductive paths, in order to operably couple the RFID tag reader with said antenna, the spacing between said magnetic flux zone and said RF communication zone permitting very little penetration of magnetic flux into the RF communication zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. The combination comprising:
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an induction heater including a component for generating a magnetic field, said component presenting a heating hob, said magnetic field creating a magnetic flux zone through the heating hob; and control circuitry operably coupled with said field generating component in order to control the operation of the component; and an induction heatable object having a periphery and positioned over said heating hob in order to be heated by said component, and an RFID tag operably coupled with said periphery of said object, said control circuitry including an RFID tag reader and a multiple loop antenna coupled with the RFID tag reader in order to interrogate said RFID tag and to receive information from said RFID tag, said antenna defining a substantially continuous RF communication zone located in outwardly spaced relationship from said magnetic flux zone and disposed about said heating hob in order to establish RF communication between said RFID tag and said RFID tag reader, the spacing between said magnetic flux zone and said RF communication zone permitting very little penetration of magnetic flux into the RF communication zone, whereby said object may be rotated to a plurality of respective positions through substantially 360 degrees of rotation while maintaining said RF communication zone between said RFID tag and said RFID tag reader. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification